Warrington Wolves have paid a moving tribute to teenager Brianna Ghey, who was stabbed to death in the town last week.
The rugby club kicked off their season by beating Leeds Rhinos in Super League on Thursday night and paid tribute to the departing teenager wearing black armbands throughout the televised match.
Danny Walker, the club’s number 16 and official knife crime ambassador, also wore a special warm-up shirt bearing Brianna’s name before the match.
“For Brianna (heart emoji),” the club tweeted before kick-off. “He was taken too young. The club and the city send our condolences to her loved ones.”
Other area sports teams are also set to pay tribute to Brianna this weekend.
Warrington Town FC have confirmed they intend to hold a minute’s silence before their home game on Saturday, with Town’s players also wearing black armbands during the game.
Warrington Rylands players will also wear black armbands in memory of the teenager during their away game at Whitby Town this weekend.
Brianna, from Birchwood in Warrington, Cheshire, was found with fatal stab wounds on a path in Culcheth Linear Park shortly after 3pm on Saturday.
A boy and a girl, both aged 15, were charged with her murder and appeared via video link at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, where a trial date was set for July.
Vigils in memory of Brianna, a transgender girl, have been held across the country, with more planned over the weekend, including in her home town of Warrington.
In central London, nearly 1,000 people gathered for a vigil in memory of the 16-year-old, waving placards that read, among other things, “Protect Transgender Youth” and “Say her name, Brianna Ghey.”
Many in the LGBTQ+ community have been left heartbroken by her death, and some who attended the vigil in Westminster were teary-eyed as they lit candles in her memory.
Friends revealed that Brianna had to deal with transphobic bullies and for many members of the trans community this only compounded their personal trauma.
In a tribute released after her death, Brianna’s family mourned the loss of a “much-loved daughter, granddaughter and sister”.
The statement added: “She was a character who would leave a lasting impression on all who met her.
“Brianna was beautiful, witty and hilarious. Briana was strong, fearless and one of a kind.’
Detective Chief Inspector Adam Waller thanked the Culcheth community for its support and said officers had been “inundated” with information.
He said: “I know the family have also been overwhelmed by the messages of support, positivity and compassion across the country and beyond – and the thoughts of everyone at the police station remain firmly with them.”
A GoFundMe crowdfunding page set up to help the schoolgirl’s family has raised more than £100,000 in donations.
Seven LGBT+ broadcasters will hold a minute’s silence in Brianna’s memory at 11am on Friday.
Gaydio, Hits Radio Pride, Pride Radio, Gorgeous Radio, Glitterbeam Radio, Trans Radio UK and Juice 1038 will pay tribute to the 16-year-old transgender teenager, from Cheshire, at 11am on Friday.
Before the silence, all stations will simultaneously run a radio segment on the topic of discrimination and violence in the trans community by trans broadcaster and Hits Radio DJ Stephanie Hirst.
It is the first time that all the broadcasters have come together for one show.
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