Man United honour fallen officer before Ipswich clash
Manchester United’s two sons of the late PC Matthew Blades escorted the team onto the Old Trafford pitch, while the club’s programme and rival clubs honoured the officer killed in a head‑on A66 collision that also claimed five other lives.
The sons of PC Matthew Blades led Manchester United out of the tunnel at Old Trafford as mascots for Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Ipswich. United described Blades as a “proud Red” and noted his regular presence at the stadium. The match programme carried a tribute to the officer, and his widow attended the game with their children.
PC Matthew Blades and his colleague PC Tom Clough were killed in a head‑on collision on the A66 near Middlesbrough on 22 August, when a vehicle travelling the wrong way struck their police car. Five occupants of the other vehicle – Michael Robert Cahill, Jacob Matusiak, Makai Saddington, Theo Rae and Cole Robert Worthy – also died. Earlier in the week, 17 people were arrested in connection with the crash, raising the total number of arrests to 24.
Other clubs marked the loss as well. Leeds United officials wore black armbands at Elland Road, with referee Tony Harrington noted as a friend of PC Blades. A minute’s applause preceded Middlesbrough’s Championship match against West Brom, and images of the two officers were displayed on the stadium screen. At Seaton Carew FC’s game versus FC Hartlepool, supporters gathered to remember Blades, who had coached junior sides at both clubs.
