Memorial Match taking place for two footballers who died in crashes just months apart in Sittingbourne and Snodland

They played for Maidstone United's disability team.

Reece Van Sertima and Charles Bolt both playing for Maidstone United's disability team.
Author: Josh BaileyPublished 13th Apr 2024

A memorial match is taking place today for two footballers who died in road accidents in Sittingbourne and Snodland just months apart from each other.

Reece Van Sertima and Charles Bolt both played for Maidstone United's disability team.

On June 12th last year, Charles, who was 20, suffered fatal injuries when his silver Ford Fiesta crashed whilst along the A249 between Sittingbourne and Maidstone.

Just eight months before, on October 8, 2022, Reece, who was also 20, was killed between Malling Road and Rocfort Road in Snodland when he was hit by a lorry on the A228.

Both boys are had played for Maidstone United raiders since they were young, in a tragedy that devested their parents and the club.

Lorraine Humm, who is head of disability football at the club, said: "They were like my kids. When Reece came to use he was very quiet, but he just grew as a person, Raiders had they affect on him.

"The same with Charlie, he would always argue with me about tactics but you would never change that about him because that's who he was.

"The way I'm feeling, I can't imagine how their parents are actually feeling and that's why we have put on this match, to make sure the families know that we are thinking of them, to give them comfort.

"The photos resurface, the chatter about good times back in the past, they get to see their teammates and other parents again."

The match will take place at the Gallagher Stadium in James Whatman Way, Maidstone, tomorrow (Saturday, April 13).

In the Spitfire Lounge, there will be a raffle and auction, with the money raised going towards the 20th anniversary celebration for the disability team.

The mayor of Maidstone is due to be in attendance. He will present the Raiders team with a certificate for providing disability football in Maidstone and Kent and being the biggest disability club in the county.