The family of a man who was stabbed to death will be holding a football tournament at Watford’s training club to raise awareness to knife crime.

Josh Hanson, from Kingsbury in north west London, was at the RE bar in Eastcote on October 11, 2015 when he was stabbed in the neck in an unprovoked attack.

Since his death, his mother Tracey Hanson launched the Josh Hanson Trust to raise awareness of knife crime and deliver support to other victims of knife crime.

Watford FC has offered the trust access to The Dome training ground in London Colney, so that the trust can hold its annual memorial football tournament, which raises funds for the charity to continue its work.

 

Josh Hanson died after a brutal attack at a bar (Photo: Met Police)

Josh Hanson died after a brutal attack at a bar (Photo: Met Police)

 

The event, on October 9, will have host 20 teams to play in the tournament, and there is currently a search for local teams to sign up to the tournament.

It will be held two days before the victim’s sixth anniversary, and the event itself will mark the fifth annual tournament.

The charity boasts helping more than 10,000 youngsters and delivering 500 one-to-one art interventions in schools to both primary and secondary pupils, as well as an art trauma recovery workshop on the last Saturday of each month.

 

A charity was launched to raise awareness for knife crime following Josh Hansons death (Photo: Met Police)

A charity was launched to raise awareness for knife crime following Josh Hanson's death (Photo: Met Police)

 

The mother said: “Unfortunately knife crime and serious violent crime is on the rise year on year and our work has never been more in demand.

“Sharing Josh’s story continues to have positive impacts. Young people pledging to not carry a knife is the most impactful response that we can expect and we have heard from many who have done just that."

 

Josh Hanson’s mother Tracey and sister Brooke outside the Old Bailey (Photo: PA)

Josh Hanson’s mother Tracey and sister Brooke outside the Old Bailey (Photo: PA)

 

She continued: “The impact of violent crime is far reaching and victims of crime are left in its wake. Here we are working with victims of crime to help them to recover from trauma through our art intervention and peer support service.”

Teams interested in entering will have a registration fee of £250.

It takes place on October 9, from 10am to 4pm.

For more information call 07968 798864 or email: tracey.hanson@thejoshhansontrust.org