IT was the perfect way of remembering their football-mad schoolmate.

Youngsters at St Monica Junior School in Southampton held a five-a-side football tournament in honour of nine-year-old Joe Grice, who died in a road accident in Septem-ber 2002.

The youngster, a football fanatic who supported both Leeds and Southampton FC, had been gathering conkers with a friend when his bike was struck by a van in Portsmouth Road, Sholing.

Joe suffered multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Now pupils in Years 5 and 6 at his former school in Sholing have taken to the football pitch for the second year running to celebrate his life.

Youngsters had been invited to form teams among themselves, with an initial knockout stage held at the school's summer fair.

The two teams which made it through to the final - played earlier this week - were the aptly named Grice FC and Winning Team, with Grice ending up overall winners after beating their rivals 4-2.

Deputy head of the school Darren Campbell said about 200 children had watched the final, which had been played in their lunch-hour.

Several parents also turned up to cheer on their youngsters, along with Joe's mum and dad, Rachel and Nick, and his elder brother, Jack.

"It was an ideal tribute to Joe," said Mr Campbell.

"He was very passionate about his football so I can't think of any better way of remembering him."