Dandy Town players paid an emotional tribute to former team-mate Jahtino Richardson-Martin after their Friendship Trophy triumph over PHC on New Year’s Day.

After denying PHC a third straight victory in the competition at Somerset Cricket Club, the Hornets players included the departed player’s family members in their celebrations, which featured a portrait of the young man with the inscription “Long Live Jahtino”.

Richardson-Martin, who played with most of the Town squad, had his blossoming career cut short when he died in a road crash at the age of 23 in November 2021, during a season in which the team went on to win the Premier Division and FA Cup.

Town captain Tomiko Goater said it was important to the team that they honoured his memory.

“Jahtino was Dandy Town and every game we like to dedicate everything we do for him because he loved to win,” Goater told The Royal Gazette.

“A majority of players in this team played with him when they were younger. It’s even more special for us to win this trophy and continue to do better in the league as we’re doing everything for him.”

Winning trophies and honouring his deceased friend motivated David Jones Jr, a goalscorer in the Friendship Trophy Final, to return to his boyhood club. Jones and Richardson-Martin played together at Town for a number of years, with the two also featuring for Eastwood Community Football Club in Britain.

Since making the switch from Young Men's Social Club, the 27-year-old has scored ten goals in all competitions and was keen to pay tribute to his friend.

“That was a big thing for me to honour my late friend by winning the Friendship Trophy,” Jones said.

“It was one of the big reasons why I came back as well because I never got to do that when I was at Social Club. It felt good to at least get a trophy and make things happen with this team.

“I played with Jahtino from a young age until I left for England. He actually came out and we played for the same semi-professional team.

“We still have the league and the FA Cup to play for. It would be nice to win those trophies and dedicate them in his honour, so that’s what we’re trying to do.”

According to the late footballer’s brother, Seion Darrell, who is one of Kyle Lightbourne’s assistant coaches, the family appreciated Town’s efforts.

“It felt really good for him to be remembered because he’s still a part of the team in spirit,” Darrell said.

“The team wanted to take the picture and the family was happy with that. I had my son holding the picture there and my mum took a picture with one of the players after the game, so that was really great.

“We did the portrait a couple of weeks ago for it to go up at the club. The team took it away for that moment and now it’s gone back to the clubhouse.”

Devarr Boyles, the Western Stars Sports Club president, is keen to ensure former players are not forgotten and the club has retired the No 16 jersey in honour of Randy Swan, Jerome Belboda and Richardson-Martin, who all wore that number.

“Most of the players on the team played with Jahtino except guys like Nathan Ntalu, who just joined the club, and Danté Leverock, who is older,” Boyles said.

“Most of the players have come through the youth system at the club, that's why they’re connected and that’s why it’s important to keep that bond. He would have been playing today if he was alive, that’s how good he was.

“Honouring our departed players is an ongoing process for us. What the players are doing is honouring their late team-mate on the field.

“As a club, we are looking at ways of keeping their legacy alive. That’s why we officially retired the No 16 jersey in honour of Randy Swan, Jerome Belboda and Jahtino. No one wears that shirt any more.

“We are also thinking around scholarships for children of the person who passed, or just to honour those people in the form of a scholarship. This hasn't been brought to fruition, but there’s been a lot discussion recently.”

Honouring Richardson-Martin comes at a time the cricket section is grappling with the shooting death of Khiry Furbert, a former captain and Cup Match wicketkeeper.

“That No 16 keeps coming up for us as a club,” Boyles added. “We had cricketer Khiry Furbert murdered on December 16.”