“MY BELOVED HUSBAND, MY BEST FRIEND”  — WIFE OF PC MATTHEW BLADES PAYS HEARTBREAKING TRIBUTE AFTER THE A66 CRASH

PC Matthew Blades, 37, was one of two Cleveland Police officers who died in the devastating A66 collision that claimed seven lives.

But to his wife, he was never just a police officer.

He was her husband.
Her best friend.
And the devoted father of their two young boys.

In a heartbreaking tribute released by Cleveland Police, his wife said:

“No words will ever feel like the right words to honour our Matt — my beloved husband, my best friend, and the most devoted father to our two young boys.”

HE WAS ALSO “DAD” TO A FOOTBALL TEAM

Away from policing, Matthew was deeply involved in his children’s lives.

He coached football and had recently joined Seaton Carew FC, where he was preparing to coach the Under-7 Seahawks — a team that included his own son.

The club said he had been excited about getting the chance to coach his son and described him as someone who had already made a strong impression on the children and families around him.

He had also coached his eldest son and other children at FC Hartlepool.

For those who knew him through football, Matthew was not simply a coach.

He was a mentor, a role model and a friend.

“FOREVER OUR SUPERHERO”

His wife’s tribute continued with words that showed just how much his family has lost.

She described him as a loving husband and devoted father — someone whose children would grow up knowing what an incredible father he was.

She ended with a message that has resonated far beyond his own family:

“Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever our superhero. Our Matt and Dad.”

Matthew died alongside fellow Cleveland Police officer PC Tom Clough, 38, when a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way along the A66 collided with their marked armed-response vehicle near South Bank. Five other people in the Passat also died.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct continues to examine the circumstances surrounding the collision and the police pursuit that preceded it.

HIS SONS WILL CARRY HIS MEMORY

Days after their father’s death, Matthew’s two sons were given an extraordinary tribute of their own.

They were invited to lead Manchester United’s players onto the pitch at Old Trafford — a deeply personal moment for a father who was described as a proud Red.

For a family facing an unimaginable loss, those moments cannot bring Matthew back.

But they can help preserve the memory of the man he was.

A police officer.
A husband.
A father.
A football coach.
And, to two little boys, their hero. 💙