'Anton lived his football dream'

Sep 7 2007 By Gurdip Thandi, Birmingham Mail

HEARTBROKEN loved ones of a young Walsall footballer who died during training today said a tearful goodbye at his funeral.

Hundreds of mourners packed Holy Trinity Birchfield Parish Church, in Aston, Birmingham, this morning to pay their last respects to Walsall FC youth team player Anton Reid.

On the family's request, the service - led by Rev Daniel Bowen - was an upbeat celebration of his life to mirror the teenager's character.

The 16-year-old collapsed after controlling a ball on his chest during a routine practice session at the University of Aston training ground in Birmingham Road, Walsall, on August 20.

After frantic efforts by paramedics and club officials to resuscitate him, Anton was airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital, where he later died. Joining Anton's family and friends were the entire Saddlers' first team and youth squads, as well as club officials.

The club's youth team boss Mick Halsall, spoke at the service and paid tribute to the promising player.

Anton, who came through the club's centre of excellence, had been coached by Halsall for more than three years.

Before arriving at Holy Trinity, the hearse carrying Anton passed the Saddlers' Banks's Stadium on its way from the family home, in Wenlock Gardens, Walsall.

The funeral service was then followed by a burial at Handsworth Cemetery.

Rev Bowen said: "We all have our dreams of what we want to do and Anton was one of the few who actually lived that dream.

"He dreamed he was going to be a footballer and he went on to become one. He was once asked who is the one person he would most like to meet and he replied God."

Shortly after his death, his devastated mum Sonia Bailey paid tribute to her "loving and caring" son.

His classmates and teachers from Blue Coat School, where he was a pupil, were stunned by Anton's death - four days before he was due to collect his GCSE results.

An inquest was opened and adjourned last month by Black Country coroner Robin Balmain but a post mortem proved inconclusive. ..SUPL: