Cody Fisher's football team postpones match as two appear in court for murder
Non-league football teams have postponed a match out of respect to player Cody Fisher after he was killed in a nightclub stabbing on Boxing Day.
Stratford Town Football Club called off its match against Bromsgrove Sporting FC, due to go ahead on Bank Holiday Monday, following what it called the "cruel and savage" events last week which had caused "hurt and pain to so many".
Stratford player Cody, 23, lost his life after he was stabbed on the dancefloor at Birmingham's Crane nightclub last week.
Police at the weekend charged two men with murder, with both appearing before magistrates on Monday.
Kami Carpenter, 21, and Remy Gordon, 22, both from Birmingham, face charges of murder and affray in relation to the attack at the venue in the Digbeth area of the city.
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Flowers and tributes left outside the Crane Nightclub for Cody Fisher (Nick Wilkinson/Birmingham Live)In a statement, a spokesperson for the Southern League said: "Following a request from Stratford Town to the League for the postponement of the scheduled match on Bank Holiday Monday, the League's Board considered this request along with the observations of Bromsgrove Sporting.
"The cruel and savage events of Boxing Day that resulted in the fatal stabbing of Stratford Town's Cody Fisher has brought hurt and pain to so many.
"Stratford Town advising the League that players, management, staff and supporters are struggling to overcome the incident and request time to seek professional help for those that need it and as such, as a Club, are in no fit state to fulfil the fixture.
Bromsgrove Sporting FC have paid tribute to Cody Fisher, describing him as a 'friend to many' at the club (-)"The League and its Board sends its best wishes to all those affected, hoping that the pain begins to heal."
Cody had played for several non-League teams, including Bromsgrove who described him as "a friend to many" at the club.
Stratford Chair Jed McCrory said the call for the match postponement had been made "to support the fact that the club is grieving".
"The players that were with Cody on the night do not feel they can play football in the near future, which is fully understandable," he said.
Football teams have called off a match following the stabbing of player Cody Fisher at a nightclub in Birmingham (Stratford Town FC)The chairman added that a minute's applause is to be held at the club's next home game at the 23rd minute, in a tribute to Cody, while the number 23 will be retired.
"Stratford Town has been overwhelmed with the support from all the non-league clubs that have contacted the club and I would like to thank the whole football fraternity for showing what football is about, up and down the country," he added.
"We applaud them and thank them for their support in such a tragic time for everyone," he concluded."
Killer dances in his victim's house with twerking model who later turned on him
(Stratford Town FC)Appearing before magistrates in the Crown Court on Monday, Carpenter and Gordon entered no plea on the murder charge, although denied the count of affray.
Both have been remanded into custody and will next appear at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday (January 4).
Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Remy Gordon (left) and Kami Carpenter both from Birmingham, appearing at Birmingham Crown Court where they have been remanded in custody on charges of murder and affray (PA)A third man, aged 22, who was arrested on suspicion of murder has been released on bail, while four others held for assisting and offender have also been released.
A brief statement released by Cody's family following his death said they had "lost a best friend", asking for privacy at "this heartbreaking time".
Crane nightclub meanwhile had its licence revoked for 28 days on Friday, following accusations from West Midlands Police about "serious management failings" on the night of the incident.
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