MORE than 600 friends of a young footballer killed in a car crash will gather for a match in the teenager’s memory.

The memorial match for Callum MacKinnon will be between Witney United under-18s and Oxford and Cherwell Valley College, the two teams the 18-year-old played for. Mr MacKinnon was the backseat passenger of a Citroën C3 when it crashed into a tree along the B4020 Shilton Road, between Burford and Carterton, at about 5.30pm on Tuesday last week. The car was travelling towards Carterton.

The match, on Thursday, at 7.30pm, has been organised by best friend Sam McNally, who played with Mr MacKinnon for Witney United under-18s.

He said: “It’s to try to get everyone together and to do something for Callum, as football was what he liked best.

“It’s the thing he loved.

“There is nothing more we can do for him.

“Basically, the whole team were his mates, so they will all turn out.”

Before kick-off at Witney United Football Club, in Downs Road, there will be a minute’s applause for Mr MacKinnon, who would have turned 19 the day after the match.

Players will wear black arm bands as a mark of respect.

Admission will cost £3, which will go to Mr MacKinnon’s family to do as they wish.

Although only organised on Friday, already 600 people have confirmed that they will be there.

Mr McNally, 18, of Witney, added: “It just shows the number of friends he had, and the number of people who want to be there — it just shows what he meant to everyone.”

Mr McNally, who now plays for the Witney United first team, said that Mr MacKinnon, of Pinecroft, Carterton, was planning to go to America next year to coach football. Witney United manager, Darren Teggart, said: “He was a likeable, friendly young man, who was popular both on and off the pitch.

“In the dressing room, he was a positive character, always ready to lift others. Many of his team-mates at Witney had known him for many years, in some cases since they were toddlers.

“Those that played at Shortwood United last Tuesday were devastated to be told the news after the game.

“Callum weighed in with a number of goals for the two united teams he represented. He had pace, and could often be relied upon to chase down a lost cause.

“He scored some spectacular and memorable goals too, perhaps most memorably at Kintbury Rangers, in his first season with the club. The following week, he scored his only hat-trick for the club against Kidlington.

“He was a young player with a great deal of potential, who will be much missed at Witney.”

Former Carterton Community College pupil Mr MacKinnon was studying for a diploma in sport at Oxford and Cherwell Valley College (OCVC), and worked at the Burford Garden Company. He had recently returned to Carterton Community College to help with PE lessons.

Des Buckingham, football development manager at OCVC, has asked 25 footballers who have played with Mr MacKinnon in the past to take part.

He said: “They are coming from all corners to play, and everyone will play a part in the match. There is no shortage of players wanting to play, and there should be a good turn-out.

“It will be emotional, but hopefully a celebratory sort of thing as well.”

The funeral will be held for Mr MacKinnon on Wednesday, and on Friday, friends will celebrate his life at Carterton‘s The Aviator.

Mr MacKinnon had taken part in his first match with Cirencester Town development side on Saturday, September 4.

He was due to attend a training session at Cirencester Town just an hour after he died, and assistant coach Andy James said that the young footballer had everything going for him.