MANCHESTER City fans were today paying tribute to a schoolboy soccer star killed in a road accident.
City and Watford fans were due to observe a minute's silence before the opening match of the season at Maine Road for tragic Daniel Foulkes.
The 14-year-old died after being hit by a motorcycle near his home in Great Sutton, Cheshire.
Daniel was about to start his third season with the City Academy.
His parents Stephen and Lesley were due to attend this afternoon's game with Daniel's 11-year-old brother Alex and his 13-year-old sister Leah.
Stephen, 40, said it would be a deeply emotional moment.
He said: ''I don't know how we will react, it will be tough but it's fantastic of the club to sort it out - they have been amazing.
''We are just going from day to day at the moment and it isn't getting any easier, it's going to take a long time.
''He loved City and it's a wonderful tribute for him and something we weren't expecting at all.''
Manchester City Academy's education welfare officer Peter Lowe said Daniel would be sadly missed by everyone there.
''We are all deeply shocked by what happened to Daniel and we are trying to do everything we can to support his family,'' he said.
''He was a very well liked lad particularly among his peers. There were around 700 people packed into the church at his funeral and there were crowds three deep lining the approach to the church.
''He was a very promising player and although it's hard to predict the future, we genuinely had high hopes for him.''
Four of the club staff helped shoulder Daniel's coffin at the funeral and Peter Lowe was one of the readers.
- The 28-year-old motorcyclist involved in the accident, Nicholas Sheppard, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving.