Wolves player Jody Craddock plants tree for murdered fan Tom Kirwan

As he planted a memorial tree in honour of popular Tom, who was a massive fan of the team, Craddock urged anyone with information to talk to police.

The tree has been planted close to the former Uberra Club, off Wolverhampton city centre's ring road, where the 23-year-old from Oxley was fatally stabbed on July 8 last year after a night out with friends.

Mr Craddock joined relatives and friends of Tom to plant the Crimson King maple. Some wore hooded tops bearing the slogan: 'Justice for Tom'.

Mr Craddock said: "It is something very small to come and do but hopefully it means a lot to the family. It is a tough time for them and obviously stirs up memories, but hopefully doing this will jog some memories and bring new information and help with the case, which is what everyone wants."

Mr Craddock added: "Knife crime really needs to be cut out, so anybody with any information, big or small, it could be really important.

"I urge them to come forward to police and help in whatever way possible to help bring closure to the family."

Mr Kirwan, who worked as a hot rolling processor at Bridgnorth Aluminium, was stabbed on a night out after trouble spilled on to the street outside the club.

Scores of his friends and family turned up to watch the tree being planted on land next to Little's Lane, off St Patricks Ring Road.

Mr Craddock, 37, said: "To see how many people have turned up today and how much it means, it's touching.

"It's hard to know what to say and it is a difficult time for the family, but this is a nice gesture and it is something that will always be here."