THE father of a rifleman killed in Afghanistan is to wear his son’s football boots at a charity soccer tournament in memory of the fallen soldier.

Last Christmas, Rifleman James Brown, aged 18, died while trying to stand his ground at a vehicle checkpoint in Helmand province when two suicide bombers on a motorbike tried to ride into a market.

His father Stephen will be playing for his team EDF Energy Vets against three other sides in an event next month to raise money for children’s hospice charity Demelza and The Rifles Care for Casualties appeal.

Mr Brown, aged 51, from St Paul’s Cray, said: “I’ll do anything to do with my boy.

“It’s so important now, especially as James is not here. To know it’s in remembrance of James means such a big deal.”

The father-of-three says he has only been able to get his life back on track in the last three months and he has nothing but happy memories of James.

He said: “James was an unbelievable child, he was such a strong-minded person, wherever there was some action he would be there. He proved that so many times.

“Don’t get me wrong, they are all heroes who go out there.

“They’re one of a few, I’m so proud of James. I say hello every morning to him. This house is a shrine to him now.”

The fundraiser, which features auctions and a raffle, kicks off at 12.30pm on October 9 at EDF Energy Leisure Sports Club, 87-91 Footscray Road, Eltham.

For more information contact Steve Dowling on 07956 845097.

RIFLEMAN JAMES BROWN

Rifleman James Brown was killed along with Lieutenant Corporal David Kirkness, aged 24, on December 15.

Both men were from the 3 RIFLES Reconnaissance Platoon.

Rifleman Brown had joined the army last year and was deployed to Afghanistan as a battle casualty replacement two weeks before his death.

He had only been in Sangin, where he died, for four days.

His father Stephen said: “He phoned me up and said this is scary stuff dad. I said I’m sure it is but he said to me I’m made out of steel.

“James had a bright future ahead of him. What they said he lacked in experience he made up with his fantastic courage.”

Work is due to be completed in November on inscribing Rifleman Brown’s name on one of eight plaques surrounding the Orpington War Memorial to remember those who died in “Other Conflicts”.