A 16-YEAR-OLD murdered by a gang of youths was the son of former
Scotland goalkeeper Jim Blyth, it was disclosed yesterday.
Scott Blyth died after being attacked outside a nightclub by a group
of youths armed with knives and baseball bats. Mr Blyth, who played
twice for Scotland in 1978, insisted yesterday that his son was not
involved in any gang warfare.
Speaking from his home in Hinckley, Leicestershire, Mr Blyth said:
''He was an innocent lad who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.''
Scott had been celebrating his parents' decision to allow him to apply
to join the police force when he was attacked and stabbed in the heart.
Witnesses said that as he lay on the ground with blood pouring from a
chest wound he cried: ''Don't let me die. Please don't let me die.''
The youngster died later despite attempts to save him outside the Buzz
nightclub in Hinckley early on Sunday.
Mr Blyth, who is in his early 40s, played for Coventry before he
retired from football in 1985. He said: ''He was a very keen sportsman.
I wouldn't describe him as a gentle giant -- he would be able to handle
himself in a fight. But you'd never expect him to become involved
because of the lovely set of friends he had. They were all studying at
college and certainly didn't go around the town looking for trouble.
''They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time when it
happened. You always hear of it happening to other people's children,
but you never believe for a moment that it's going to happen to yours.''
The murder was the second knifing during a night of violence in the
town believed to have been triggered by gang rivalry.
The other victim, Lindon Green, 25, was in a satisfactory condition in
hospital after undergoing emergency surgery to a chest wound. Twelve
youths are in custody and helping police with their inquiries.
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