FOOTBALL-mad Anthony Tattersall was due to be buried today in his Rossendale United strip, nine days after he received fatal head injuries in a road accident in Burnley.

His devastated mum Liz Hamer has taken the decision to auction off her son's treasured autographed Manchester United shirt to raise money for the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, where he died on Sunday last week.

Anthony, 13, was brought home to Wiswell Close, Rawtenstall, today and the cortege left for a Requiem Mass at St James the Less RC Church, Rawtenstall, at 11am.

The hearse first went round the roundabout outside his school ,Alder Grange, and students were allowed to leave their lessons and line up to pay their respects to the popular pupil.

The family asked that people give donations in lieu of flowers to the intensive care unit south at Pendlebury.

Liz said: "He never got to see a Manchester United game, but when they were playing on TV he would keep on popping in to find out the score and then go back to playing football. He wouldn't have the patience to sit through an entire match."

Anthony played for Rossendale United under-14s and the striker was the top scorer so far this season.

He would train once a week and play most weekends His mum said: "If he was hurt he would suck his thumb and so that is how we have laid him to rest, sucking his thumb. It was his way of comfort."

Anthony, a former pupil of St James the Less RC School would also go along and help at the church events at St James

His sister Vanessa, 15, has been quiet since the accident and his brother Thomas, three, misses his mate. Liz said the two were inseparable.

Anthony's stepfather Darren said: "He had been to a birthday party in Burnley and had gone ten-pin bowling. He was going into town with his friends to buy a PlayStation game and was crossing Centenary Way when the accident happened. We were told he did not suffer."

The couple praised the doctors and nurses who tried to save Anthony's life at Burnley and at Pendlebury and the police for their concern and help.

Father David Lupton, from St James, has visited the family two to three times a day since. Liz said: "He went with us to place flowers at the spot where the accident happened."

Driver Nigel Canning, 32, of Manchester Road, Burnley, has been bailed by Burnley Magistrates on charges of failing to stop and other motoring offences.