Tonight:
5°c
Glory day for the Spurs boy killed by IRA
Danny Brierley10 Mar 2009
This picture shows Cengiz Azimkar, the London soldier shot dead outside his barracks in Northern Ireland, moments before he earned his trial for Tottenham Hotspur football club.
The talented footballer, known as Patrick, was lining up with his team-mates for the final of the England schools competition at Villa Park in 2003. His team, from Edmonton County School, lost the under-14s final to a side from Yorkshire but Patrick's performance earned him the trial for Spurs, friends said.
Former team-mates released the photo to the Standard as they paid tribute to “Big Pat”, who was killed by the Real IRA.
About 50 friends gathered last night at The Stag and Hounds pub, yards from his old school. They told how the 21-year-old from Wood Green had joined the Army following his unsuccessful trial to “make a man of himself”, after a brief spell as a trainee carpenter, his father's trade.
The last time most of the group saw “fiercely competitive” Sapper Azimkar was at the 21st birthday party of Ahmet Oyuncu in Crouch End two weeks ago.
Mr Oyuncu said: “Everyone was there and they were all glad to see him that night. He was talking about Northern Ireland and saying how much he loved it over there, how he wanted to move there and have all his friends over for a big night out.”
Sapper Azimkar and fellow soldier Mark Quinsey, 23, from Birmingham, died on Saturday, hours before they were due to fly to Afghanistan.
Mr Oyuncu added: “If he died in a war we would all still be hurting but to be killed like that by cowards makes it harder for everyone who knew him.”
He also told friends he was looking forward to a stint with the 38 Engineer Regiment in Fiji after their tour of duty had ended.
David Coles, 21, a model from Hertfordshire, said: “He was dreaming about Fiji and how he would love to live in Belfast.”
Greg Armstrong, 21, a trainee civil engineer, said: “He was just one of the guys, but a very special friend. Someone who was always smiling. He was a great footballer, we first played together in primary school. All our hearts are broken, it has affected us deeply.”
