FRIENDS of a nine-year-old sports fanatic who was killed in a road crash will this week be celebrating his life by competing in a memorial football competition.

Joe Grice was out with a friend, gathering conkers, when he was involved in a cycling accident in September 2002.

The popular St Monica's School pupil was on his bike when he was hit by a Ford Transit van on the busy Portsmouth Road in Sholing.

Now youngsters in Years 5 and 6 at his former school will be taking to the football pitch for the second year running to battle it out in a five-a-side tournament in his memory.

The competition, which takes place on Wednesday, will have extra poignancy this year as it's the last time that Joe's classmates will be competing as a school team.

Deputy head of the school Darren Campbell said: "Joe was just a huge football fanatic who loved watching and playing so it is a fitting way to remember him."

Pupils were invited to form teams among themselves and there was an initial knockout stage at the school's summer fair.

The two teams who have made it through to this week's final are the aptly-named Grice FC and confidently-named Winning Team, who will both be trying to get their hands on the trophy donated by Southampton Football Club.

Joe's mother, Rachel Grice, said: "Joe loved all sports. He was a Leeds United fan like his dad but also supported Saints as they are local. He would have thought this was a good way to remember him.

"This year is special since it will be all his friends trying to win the trophy."

As well as the establishment of the competition, donations from friends of Joe's family mean he's left another legacy with his school - new equipment for sport.

The event takes place at 1pm.