Friday 22 August 2008

Exclusive: Mum of stabbed Harry Potter star Rob Knox angry at club closure

The mum of stabbed Harry Potter actor Rob Knox yesterday blasted their council for closing a local football club and leaving kids with nowhere to go.

The club has helped keep children off the streets since 1928, but is due to be demolished to make way for new housing.

Speaking at a charity game organised in honour of her 18-year-old son, who was stabbed to death, mum Sally said: "This club has become crucial to the community. The kids need somewhere to go, so they are not hanging around, bored and getting into trouble.

"If the Government is serious about tackling knife crime they should be creating more activities for teenagers, not knocking down the ones they've got."

Sally added: "Putting my heart and soul into Rob's charity has helped me. If we can give teens somewhere to go after school and on weekends, maybe Rob won't have died in vain." The council claims the site is integral to the regeneration of the area and served notice two weeks ago. They believe they have the right to seize the land because of a £140,000 debt for overdue rent.

But the club says this is cancelled out by maintenance work they have paid for over the years, amounting to around £200,000.

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