“Hugely talented footballer and selfless man”: Tributes paid as non-league player, 26, dies from injuries after Milton Keynes attack
Tributes have been paid to a 26-year-old non-league footballer after he died from injuries sustained in an attack in Milton Keynes at the weekend.
Ezekiel Williams died in hospital from his injuries on Monday (November 2), after being assaulted in Midsummer Boulevard in the early hours of Sunday (November 1).
Thames Valley Police confirmed the identity of the victim earlier today (Wednesday) and are conducting a murder investigation into the incident.
Two men, aged 21 and 28, both from Luton, have been arrested on suspicion of murder while another man, aged 30 from Luton, was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
All three men are currently in police custody.
Ezkiel played for Hendon FC, a club who compete in the Isthmian South Central division, the eighth tier of English football.
The club posted in a statement on the social media platform X: “We are stunned and heartbroken to announce the sudden and tragic passing of midfielder Ezekiel Williams aged 26.
“A humble, unassuming and generous individual with a razor-sharp wit, Eze joined the club in September and quickly established himself as a highly popular member of the dressing room and was beginning to carve a place for himself in midfield with a series of hard-working and selfless displays that summed him up as a person.
“Only 10 days ago, he scored his first goal for the club against Jersey Bulls.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Ezekiel’s family, friends, and everyone who knew him at this devastating time. He will be very sadly missed by all of us at Hendon Football Club.”
Hendon FC has postponed its London Senior Cup tie against Woodford Town, which was due to take place tonight, as a sign of respect.
Ezekiel also worked as the head of youth development at Journey of a Pro, a Christian-values-rooted football coaching and training community based in West London.
A fundraising page has been set up in Ezekiel’s memory by Journey of a Pro (JOAP) chief executive Tyrique Clarke, and has already raised more than £13,000 within 24 hours of being launched.
The fundraising page described Ezekiel as “a hugely talented footballer”, and “a selfless man that was known for helping others wherever possible.”
“{Ezekiel was} a selfless man that was known for helping others whenever possible and took joy in seeing his close friends and family win!” Tyrique wrote on the fundraising page.
“If Ezekiel heard of an opportunity, his first thought would be how could this benefit somebody I know and he would do whatever he could to help.
“If you ever encountered Ezekiel you would have heard his words of encouragement and felt his infectious positivity.
“{He was} a man who never had anything given to him and was prepared to put in the work to achieve his full potential.
“A huge part of Ezekiel was his faith in God - he was God-fearing and spoke boldly of the word of God.
“His faith was truly special and he devoted time every day to share his thoughts on the Bible to his loved ones and friends to help progress his and his friends’ knowledge on the word of God.
“Ezekiel was a hugely talented footballer with the dream of becoming a professional footballer - he worked hard day in and day out to try and achieve his goal.
“Alongside this he spent his time helping other young footballers at JOAP get closer to achieving their goal of becoming a professional footballer.
“He helped every young athlete he encountered from young children who gained ‘confidence’ from his sessions to players receiving professional academy contracts through his training.
“Ezekiel is a truly special person and anyone who had the pleasure of encountering with him can contest to this.”
The Isthmian Football League also issued its own tribute writing: “Ezekiel was an Isthmian through and through, and we were proud to have him as one of our own.
“As well as Hendon, he has turned out for Hastings United, Ascot United, Marlow, Northwood, Harrow Borough and Hayes & Yeading United, amongst others, and has made friends wherever he has played.
“We send our love and our condolences to his family and friends, to all at Hendon, and to all at his former clubs, who will be united in grief at his passing.”