PALS of tragic teenager Jack Atkinson paid an emotional tribute to him at a memorial football match in his honour.

Friday's game took place at Clacton Coastal Academy where Jack had been a pupil.

The 18-year-old collapsed following a cardiac arrest while playing for playing for Holland FC Under-18s on November 13.

He was rushed to hospital but medics were unable to save him.

The school timetable was suspended on Friday afternoon so hundreds of pupils could watch the tribute match between a Chelsea Foundation side and an All-Stars team made up of Jack's footballing pals.

The match took place just 24 hours after his funeral at a packed Weeley Crematorium.

Close friend Shane Spacey set up a Go Fund Me page after the tragedy.

He hoped to raise £200 but the total has now reached an incredible £9,500.

Shane, 18, from Point Clear, said: "It was an emotional afternoon – especially after the funeral yesterday.

"I'd known Jack since we started playing football and saw him every Sunday," said the Coastal Academy sixth-former.

"We were close mates. He was the nicest person you could meet.

"No one expected that to happen to anyone you know.

"It affected every single person at the club, even those who didn't really know him."

The memorial match was raising money for the Essex Air Ambulance which airlifted Jack to hospital and local charity CRY - Cardiac Risk in the Young.

The school had held a minute's silence at the time of former pupil Jack's funeral as a mark of respect.

Headteacher Stephanie Neill said: "I had the privilege to be Jack's maths teacher when he was with us in year 11.

"It is so sad that a young man loses his life so early. We are so proud of our sixth form students who were there at the match in the way they have responded to this tragedy.

"It has caused many of our young people to reflect on how some things are never as certain as they seem. I am pleased we have been able to find ways for the whole school to respond and to raise money for these vital charities."