Football match in memory of murdered Kyle

Mr Byfield, 23, was stabbed on April 16.

Natasha Capell, of Jubilee Court, in Banbury, was convicted of his murder following a seven-day trial in October. She was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years.

This Saturday will mark a year since Mr Byfield’s death. Speaking to the Banbury Guardian his mother, Roni, said the past year had been ‘awful’.

She said: “It has just gone so quickly and no-one can believe it’s been a year since he’s gone.

“For me, I have lost my job, my home, I’ve had to downsize and I’ve lost my livelihood.

“I can’t believe it and it’s very, very upsetting and over the past couple of weeks even more so. It has been very, very tough.

“He was such a joker, always happy and bright. His friends still write on his Facebook page.”

“The hardest thing was Kyle was due to turn 24 at Christmas. When you think about it, it is still so young.”

A school friend of Mr Byfield, Loretta Sawyers, has organised the charity football event for April 24. This is the second year the event will have been held.

Kick off is at 2pm at Broughton and North Newington Football Ground.

Entry is £1 and funds raised from the event will go to the Ben Kinsella Trust, a charity which educates youngsters on knife crime.

It was set up in memory of the 16-year-old who was murdered in London in June 2008.

Mrs Byfield said Kyle played football and rugby.

She said: “The event will be a charity match, or matches depending on how many people turn up because last year it was rammed. The lads were brilliant and they played several games.”

Last year’s event raised around £1,000.

She added: “The town and all of his friends have been fantastic. They all rallied around and his friends are still missing him. The support we have had has been fantastic.”

Event details are on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/186847155033531/.