Young footballers have taken part in a memorial trophy match in honour of their former goalkeeper, Ross Doyle, who was killed by a stolen car.

Cheryl Doyle with Ross's father Mick and the team captains Jordan Marsh, 10, left, of Oxford Blackbirds Boys FC and Ryan Allbon, 10, of Cholsey Bluebirds FC,

The Ross Doyle Memorial Cup match will be held at the end of every football season in memory of the nine-year-old, who died in December 2000.

Ross used to play for the Oxford Blackbirds Under 10s and yesterday, the team took on Cholsey Under 10s in the inaugural match for the trophy at a pitch in Cuddesdon Way, Blackbird Leys. The teams held a minute's silence before kick-off and Cholsey went on to win 5-2.

Ross' mother, Cheryl Doyle, said: "It's just nice that people are remembering Ross and that it won't go away for anyone, like it hasn't gone away for us."

Kevin Trendell, secretary of the Oxford Blackbirds, added: "We decided, after speaking to Ross's parents, that this was the only fitting way to keep the memory of him alive."

Ross was killed while returning from football practice.