'Disgusting' thieves ransack grave of Sheffield Wednesday fan who died aged just 13

Thieves have ransacked the grave of a Sheffield Wednesday superfan and his father who both died tragically young.
By Robert Cumber
Published 23rd Mar 2020, 10:23 GMT
Updated 24th Mar 2020, 14:08 GMT
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Tom Bothamley – who became the Owls’ youngest club member when granddad Paul Carder registered him on the day he was born – died suddenly of a rare heart condition in July 2016, aged just 13, while watching music videos at his home in Flanderwell, Rotherham.

Tom’s dad Ryan had died of sudden adult death syndrome, aged 15, in February 2002, while his partner Keira was pregnant with Tom.

Coronavirus: Sheffield sports bar becomes a food bank donation point to help the vulnerable

Ryan and Tom Bothamley's grave after thieves stole silver flower pots and an owl statuette from the resting place of the Sheffield Wednesday superfansRyan and Tom Bothamley's grave after thieves stole silver flower pots and an owl statuette from the resting place of the Sheffield Wednesday superfans
Ryan and Tom Bothamley's grave after thieves stole silver flower pots and an owl statuette from the resting place of the Sheffield Wednesday superfans
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They are buried together in the graveyard of St Alban’s Church in Wickersley, where their headstone pays homage to their shared love of the Owls.

Tom’s mum Keira Hayden was horrified when she visited the grave yesterday, Thursday, March 19, to discover two silver flower pots had been stolen, along with a white owl statuette.

Ryan’s brother Lewis Carder, who was at the graveyard only last week to scatter the ashes of their dad Paul Carder after he drowned while on a cruise in January, said he was sickened by what had happened.

How coronavirus numbers have risen since first diagnosis as confirmed Sheffield cases reach 40

Tom Bothamley died suddenly aged 13 in 2016Tom Bothamley died suddenly aged 13 in 2016
Tom Bothamley died suddenly aged 13 in 2016

“It’s disgusting. Who in the right mind would even think of doing this? These are two young local lads who tragically lost there lives and majority of the local residents will know what has happened to them and our family,” he said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s just the lowest of the low, especially after the start to the year we’ve had with my dad’s passing.

“Ryan’s grave has been there since 2002 and then when Thomas passed away in 2016, we changed it to the both of them so they can be together at last due to never meeting each other in person. Nothing has happened in the last 18 years so just don’t get why it would happen right now!”

Keira, who also lost her 23-month-old son Joshua Donnelly on Christmas Day in 2007, has devoted her spare time to fundraising and campaigning since Tom’s death, helping to raise the money for life-saving defibrillators to be installed, and in 2018 she was among the winners at the Pride of Britain Awards.

Anyone with information is asked to call South Yorkshire Police on 101.