Newport County pay tribute to ex-academy player Ashley Day murdered in Digbeth, Birmingham

Newport County Football Club have paid tribute to one of their former academy players who was stabbed to death in Digbeth last week.

Twenty-year-old Ashley Day was murdered at a house party in Digbeth, Birmingham just after 6am on Thursday (June 29). The apartment was being used as a venue for a party which had been advertised through social media platforms.

Ashley had played football for Newport football academy and was getting ready to study at Brunel University. Paying tribute to their former academy player, a statement from the South Wales club, read: “Newport County AFC are deeply saddened to learn the devastating news of the passing of former academy player Ashley Day. Everyone at Newport County AFC’s thoughts are with Ashley’s family and friends at this time.”

Man arrested for murder

Gurveer Bhandal, 18, is accused of murdering Ashley Day, as well as possession of a bladed article. He was charged on Friday night (June 30) and appeared before city magistrates on Saturday, 1 July.

In a tribute, Ashley’s family said: “Ashley was a very well-mannered and loving boy. He was very passionate about football and excelled at Newport football academy. He had a great love for music. He’d just been accepted to study sports science at Brunel University and was very excited to start later this year.

“He was a great big brother and protector to his mum, younger brother, and his family. Anyone who knew him will tell you how he exuded joy and happiness and always wanted the best for everybody. His smile was infectious and his sense of humour was out of this world. Our hearts are bleeding for our model son.”