Man Utd pay tribute to ‘proud Red’ crash death officer

Manchester United paid tribute to PC Matthew Blades, one of two police officers killed in a crash near Middlesbrough, ahead of their Premier League match against Ipswich at Old Trafford on Sunday. Blades, described by the club as "a proud Red," was a regular at Old Trafford, and his two sons will lead the team out as mascots while his widow and children attend the game, with the club also honouring him in the match programme.

PC Blades and colleague PC Tom Clough died on 22 August when their police car collided head-on with a vehicle travelling the wrong way on the A66; five occupants of that vehicle also died. A minute's applause was held for the officers before Middlesbrough's Championship game with West Brom, and tributes were also paid at Seaton Carew FC, where Blades had coached junior football. The investigation into the crash has so far led to 24 arrests, including 17 made earlier this week.