Tomasz Oleszak's little brother proudly following in his sibling's football footsteps
Mum hopes youngest son Kuba will one day play on new football pitched dedicated to 14-year-old who was knifed to death in Gateshead
by Sophie Doughty · ChronicleLiveFollowing in the footsteps of his big brother, little Kuba proudly wears the same shirt number as his stabbed sibling.
Talented footballer Tomasz Oleszak died at the aged of just 14 after he was knifed in the chest by teenager Leighton Amies, close to his home, on Gateshead's Springwell estate.
The tragedy, in October 2022, sent shockwaves through the community and left Tomasz' loving family heartbroken. Yet determined to see something positive come from their senseless loss the schoolboy's loved ones are fundraising tirelessly to create a lasting legacy to Tomasz.
Low Fell-based Cleveland Hall FC, who Tomasz played for, is planning to create a new 4g football pitch named the Tomasz Oleszak Memorial pitch, in his memory. Next month, to mark what would have been the teen's 17th birthday, a fundraising event will be held to help pay for the pitch.
Now Tomasz' mum has revealed how her youngest son Kuba, eight was now following in his big brother's footsteps by playing for Cleveland Hall's under 9s team and wearing the same shirt number Tomasz did. And Kamila Wisniewska has today told the Chronicle what it would mean to see Kuba play on a pitched named after Tomasz, as she thanked the football club for its determination to celebrate Tomasz' life.
She said: "Tomasz was a popular and promising footballer. He loved football and other sports, he was known for it. It is an honour that Cleveland Hall FC wants to build a new 4g pitch and name it in memory of Tomasz Oleszak. Tomasz's younger brother also trains at this club, I think he will proudly play matches in his memory and as a result, he will grow up to be a good footballer, because I bet it will give him strength and motivation to be better.
"It is a pleasure for us, for the parents, that the club came up with such an idea. That's why we're using Tomasz' birthday initiative to support Cleveland Hall FC because it was a wonderful gift and celebration of his life."
Amies, was also just 14, when he stabbed Tomasz to death. Newcastle Crown Court heard how he had left his home armed with a knife and got into a confrontation with the group Tomasz was in, at Whitehills Nature Reserve, which borders the estate. During the row he stabbed unarmed Tomasz. The knife completely severed the cartilage of the 14-year-old’s rib and went into his aorta. He later died in hospital.
Amies, of Stuart Terrace in Felling, Gateshead, denied murder, claiming he was acting in self-defence. But a jury found him guilty of murdering Tomasz and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent on another boy. He was jailed for life with a minimum of 12 years.
Kamila also hopes to new pitch will help raise vital awareness of the dangers of carrying knives, and ultimately save lives.
"In our community and the whole of Gateshead there was a lot of talk about how our boy lost his life," she said. "This tragedy affected thousands of people and dozens of Tomasz's friends. By building this pitch we can keep Tomasz's memory alive and also give awareness against knife crime. I think that everyone who has the opportunity to train or play a match on this pitch will be reminded of the tragedy in which Tomasz died and the pain that our family and friends went through, thanks to which we can save someone's life."
The fundraising event, named Happy Heavenly 17th Birthday Tomasz, will take place on October 19 at the Fiddler's Three Pub, in Springwell, from 12pm. Fun football matches, auctions, raffles and fireworks will be brought to Springwell during the day of celebrations.
And one one of the event's organisers, Lilian Howson, has appealed for anyone who can help by donating either items or time to get in touch.
"We want to celebrate his birthday," said Lilian. "We are still out there looking for donations. We are not saying 'no' to anything. if we can't use it for the raffle or the auction we can use it on the tombola."
"The aim is if they can get it made his little brother will be able to play on it. That will be really special."
Anyone who feels they can help can contact by text on 07919916606, or by email at lilianhowson@gmail.com
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