Reagan Asbury murder: Football club to hold fundraiser for teen as second arrested man is bailed
A second man arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender in the Reagan Asbury murder probe has been bailed pending further inquiries.
It comes as a fundraising event in memory of Reagan will be held at his former football club this weekend.
Pelsall United players and staff have organised the fundraiser in memory of Reagan, who was a centre-half at the club.
The 19-year-old, from Pelsall, died in hospital after being stabbed during disorder which broke out at a boxing event at Walsall Town Hall.
Trouble flared during the headline fight on Saturday before spilling out onto the streets.
Floral tributes have since been left close to the scene of the disorder.
And Reagan’s former teammates and coaches have planned the fundraiser on Saturday afternoon.
There will be a raffle, and bucket on the bar at The Old House at Home pub, in Norton Road, from 1pm.
Manager Mark Nixon said: “What happened has knocked everybody for six, it’s tragic. Reagan was a funny kid and he was always smiling.
“We just want to do the best we can for him and raise as much money as we can.
“So there will be a raffle and bucket on the bar – just a few little bits to get everybody to come down and donate.
“We’re also getting all his football tops put into a glass frame.”
Mr Nixon said the club’s young crop of players – with an average age of just 20 – have been hit hard by Reagan’s death. The club only formed this year and is made up of a close knit group of friends. They compete in the Birmingham & District Football League division four.
Mr Nixon said the team’s closeness has made dealing with Reagan’s loss even tougher. "Every one of them in the team is a mate, they all knock about together,” he explained. "It isn’t a team full of strangers, they are all good mates who knock about before and after football, every day. They’re a close knit group. But that has made it very hard for them with what has happened.”
He added: “What I remember most about Reagan was his smile, he was always smiling. There was never a dull moment when he was around. He was a proper gent.
“On the pitch he was as strong as a bull, he was a big lad and really strong. It would be great if we could win something for him this season – that’s the plan.” Reagan scored a penalty in what proved to be his final appearance for Pelsall United on Saturday – just hours before attending the boxing event.
The club drew 3-3 with Dosthill Rovers, eventually losing 5-4 on penalties in a C H Patten Senior Cup clash.
But Reagan stood firm at the back even when his team went down to nine men. And he calmly slotted a penalty during the shootout. He said: “Reagan took a penalty and put it right into the top right hand corner It was the best penalty of the lot. And that’s the way we need to remember him.”
Wolves Sporting have also announced their own tribute to Reagan at a weekend match. There will be a minute’s silence ahead of the club’s FA Vase clash with Staveley Miners Welfare, while players will also wear black armbands.
A fundraising page set up in Reagan’s honour raised more than £9,000 in its first 24 hours. To contribute to the fundraising visit www.gofundme.com/r3ji-1
Two men have been arrested in connection with Reagan’s death. A 25-year-old was detained in Derby on Sunday on suspicion of assisting an offender and has been bailed. A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of the same offence on Tuesday morning has now also been bailed.
