FRIENDS and family of Ryan Passey are planning a ‘community march’ and memorial football game as they begin building a ‘long-term legacy’ for the tragic stabbing victim.

As the anniversary of Ryan’s death approaches next Monday (August 6), a special memorial match has been announced between Wolves All-Stars and a ‘Justice for Ryan’ team on September 30.

The match is planned to take place at Stourbridge FC and will be preceded by a march from the town centre that organisers hope will act as a demonstration against knife crime.

Wolves-mad Ryan, 24, from Quarry Bank, died after being knifed in the chest at the former Chicago’s nightclub in Stourbridge almost a year ago.

But although Dudley teenager Kobe Murray admitted stabbing Ryan, a Birmingham Crown Court jury let the 19-year-old walk free in February, deciding he was not guilty of murder or manslaughter.

Family friend Jason Connon is a key figure behind Ryan’s Law, a campaign demanding a law change to give the families of victims of serious crime the right to appeal similarly controversial court rulings.

And he says September’s march and football match will give the community the chance to celebrate Ryan’s life – as well as highlight the growing menace of knife crime.

Mr Connon said: “There will be a march from Ryemarket up to the football club and we invite all members of the public to join us and support Ryan’s family.

“Ryan’s funeral was a very private affair, as was his birthday when it was marked by his family, so the public have not had an opportunity to show their support and now they will because this is open to all.

“There will be other families of victims of knife crime from all over the UK joining us on the march. We met some families at an anti-knife conference in London and have stayed in close contact.

“Then, the football match to follow will feature some ex-pros in the ‘Justice for Ryan’ team who will play Wolves All-Stars. Ryan was a massive Wolves fan, he watched them from when he was a little kid.

“One of the things Ryan’s family want to do is set up a positive legacy in his name – this event will be the start of that and it was something, because of the court case, that had been put to one side for a while.

“They want to set up an anti-knife charity that will work with football clubs – Ryan was a passionate footballer and fan – to educate people, particularly youngsters, on the devastating effects of knife crime.”

Monies raised from the event will go towards the ongoing costs of the Ryan’s Law campaign.

Mr Connon added: “Police have said they are reviewing the case as is the Attorney General. Now we have to obtain the best legal representation to help us move forward.

“We are not going away. We are still here fighting something that we never thought we would have needed to fight, given the circumstances of Ryan’s death.

“We are focussed on getting rightful justice for Ryan.”