FRIENDS of a much-loved Walsoken father who left behind two young children when he was killed in a road crash have clubbed together to form a charity football team in his name.

Mates of 25-year-old Carl Parsons will now form the new CP8 team to play in a Sunday league so they raise money to support his four-year-old son Kian and two-year-old daughter Amy.

Organiser Tommy Jolly said he and others wanted to do something special to pay tribute to the man they described as “always smiling and laughing” as well as do what they can to help his children and fiance Louise Thompson.

They will kick off with a charity football match against another group of Mr Parson’s friends at Wisbech Town Football Club on Friday, August 31 and have appealed to members of the public to support them with sponsorship money and raffle prizes.

Fighting back the tears, Mr Parson’s father John said: “If he saw what was going on, he would be so proud, so proud.

“Carl was always smiling and you never saw him upset. He was a man with a huge personality. If you were in a mood and you bumped into him, he would get you laughing.

“Unless you have lost a child it is difficult to explain the emotions but they are the best bunch of friends ever. They always involve me in what they are doing and come round to make sure I am okay.”

Mr Parsons was a passenger in the Mercedes van involved in a collision with an Audi car on the A34, close to the Chieveley exit, in September 2010 which also killed driver Daniel King, 22, of King’s Lynn.

More than 600 people attended Mr Parson’s funeral as he was well-known in the Wisbech area.

He had played for Emneth Spartans, once finishing the season as the team’s highest goal scorer.

He wore the number eight shirt, hence the use of his initials and his lucky number in the new team name.

Memorial drinks for Mr Parsons will also be held at the Westfield Hotel in Wisbech on September 7.

For more information about CP8 or to support the team, call Mr Jolly on 07595 245598 or John Parsons on 07786 185069.