Student to be remembered with celebrity match

A celebrity football match will be held in memory of an Essex student who was stabbed to death on a night out while away at university.

Henry Nowak, 18, from Chafford Hundred, died at the scene on 3 December in Southampton where he was a first-year student and keen footballer.

His family said July’s football match at Aveley Football Club would represent “a community coming together to remember Henry and support a charity that helps families through their darkest days”.

Money raised from the game will go to 2Wish, which supports bereaved families of children and young adults who die suddenly or unexpectedly.

Organisers said there had been “overwhelming community support” for the idea of a match near Henry’s hometown, and the plans would bring together “well-known faces, local supporters and the wider community for a powerful day of remembrance and fundraising”.

In February, a charity football match took place between two clubs Henry was involved with – Villarrealgorithm CF and Southampton University Football Club – which was also in aid of 2Wish.

The charity said so far, almost £50,000 had been raised in Henry’s memory.

The line-up for July’s event includes former West Ham defender Paul Konchesky, TV personality Calum Best and former The Only Way is Essex star Dan Osborne.

Other familiar faces who have appeared on reality TV shows Love Island and Married at First Sight will feature.

Henry Nowak was a keen footballer who was involved with two different clubs at university in Southampton [Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police]

Vickrum Digwa, 22, of St Denys Road, Southampton, is due to appear at the city’s crown court on 12 May, charged with murder and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

Digwa’s mother Kiran Kaur, 52, also of St Denys Road, has been charged with assisting an offender.

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