JACKSON DUKE, 17 — THE YOUNG FOOTBALLER WHOSE PROMISING JOURNEY ENDED AT THE RIVER WEAR

He was a talented young footballer with years of dreams ahead of him. Now, teammates and coaches are remembering Jackson Duke as a much-loved member of the Hebburn Town family.

Jackson Duke was only 17.

Like many teenagers his age, he had dreams of what might come next.

For Jackson, football was a major part of that future.

He played for Hebburn Town Juniors and represented the club’s Under-18s team, where teammates and coaches knew him as part of their football family.

But this promising young football journey came to a devastating end when Jackson was among three teenagers who died after a car entered the River Wear in Sunderland.

His death has left his football teammates, coaches, friends and family facing a loss they never imagined they would have to endure.

A TRAGEDY ON THE RIVER WEAR

Shortly before 1:30pm on Tuesday, September 29, Northumbria Police received reports that a black Audi A3 had come off the road at Panns Bank, near Wearmouth Bridge, and entered the River Wear.

Four people were believed to have been inside the vehicle.

A 17-year-old boy managed to reach safety and suffered non-serious injuries.

Sadly, the bodies of three other teenagers were later recovered from the water.

They were identified as Jackson Duke, 17, Luke Etheridge, 16, and Zara Shaw, 16. Jackson and Luke were from the Sunderland area, while Zara was from Houghton-le-Spring.

All three were students at Sunderland College.

The news sent shockwaves through the local community.

JACKSON WAS PART OF A FOOTBALL FAMILY

For those at Hebburn Town Juniors, Jackson was much more than a player on a team sheet.

He was part of a group of young people who trained, competed and shared the everyday experiences that make football such a powerful part of teenage life.

The club described him as a “much-loved member” of Hebburn Town Juniors and one of its Under-18 players.

In a tribute, the club said Jackson’s loss would be deeply felt by his teammates, coaches, friends and everyone across the club who knew him.

“Jackson was part of our football family,” the club said.

Those words have taken on an especially painful meaning following his death.

A football club is often where young players make some of their closest friendships.

For Jackson’s teammates, the training ground and pitch will now carry memories of a friend who should have had many more matches ahead of him.

A YOUNG PLAYER WITH HIS FUTURE AHEAD

Jackson had only just begun his football journey.

At 17, he was still playing youth football and developing as a player, with years potentially ahead of him to discover where the sport could take him.

His teammates will now remember the moments that once seemed ordinary — training sessions, matches, celebrations and time spent together away from the pitch.

The loss is particularly painful because Jackson’s life had so much still to come.

He should have been thinking about his next game.

His next goal.

His next season.

Instead, his teammates are preparing to play without him.

A MINUTE’S SILENCE

The football community has responded with tributes of its own.

Hebburn Town planned a minute’s silence ahead of its FA Youth Cup match following Jackson’s death.

It was a small gesture for a young player whose absence will be felt every time his former teammates step onto the pitch.

For the players who shared the dressing room and football pitch with Jackson, there will inevitably be reminders of him in the places where they once saw him every week.

A shirt.

A familiar face.

A teammate’s voice.

A football being passed across the pitch.

And the knowledge that one member of their football family will never walk back through the doors.

JACKSON WAS NOT ALONE

Jackson’s death was part of a tragedy that claimed the lives of three teenagers in the same vehicle.

Luke Etheridge, 16, was remembered by those who knew him as a bright, energetic and positive young person whose personality could light up a room.

Zara Shaw, also 16, was described by her former school as kind and loyal, with strong relationships with both classmates and teachers.

Their deaths have devastated Sunderland College, where all three teenagers studied.

The college said it was deeply saddened by the loss of three students, while schools, youth organisations and football clubs have joined their families in mourning.

THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

Police are still investigating exactly what happened before the Audi entered the River Wear.

Northumbria Police said no other vehicles are believed to have been involved, but officers are continuing enquiries to establish the circumstances leading up to the incident.

A 17-year-old boy who survived was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

He was later released on bail pending further enquiries.

Police have also said they are working to establish who was driving the car when it entered the water.

Officers have appealed for anyone who may have CCTV, dashcam footage or other information to come forward.

They have also urged people not to speculate about the circumstances on social media, stressing the impact such speculation can have on the families.

REMEMBERING JACKSON

For Jackson’s football family, the most important thing now is not the unanswered questions surrounding the crash.

It is remembering the teenager he was.

A young footballer.

A teammate.

A friend.

A son.

A member of the Hebburn Town family.

His football career had barely begun.

There should have been more goals to celebrate, more matches to play and more memories to make.

Instead, his teammates are left with the memories they already have — and the painful knowledge that Jackson will not be there to make the next ones.

Hebburn Town’s tribute ended with a simple message:

“Rest in peace, Jackson. You will be remembered, and you will always be part of the Hebburn Town Juniors family.”

At just 17, Jackson Duke had his whole future ahead of him.

Now, his name will live on in the football club, among the teammates who knew him and in the memories of everyone who loved him.

A young football journey cut tragically short — but a boy who will not be forgotten.