Talented teenager William Hunter's family told of their heartache today after he was killed walking home from a Christmas party. The soccer-mad schoolboy's parents, Tania and Billy, spoke of the loss of the youngest of their five children who had everything to live for. Fighting back tears, Tania, of Winton Way, North Kenton, Newcastle, said: "He was a brilliant lad and everybody loved him. We just can't believe he's gone. I just want to go to sleep and find it's all been a bad dream. "All his friends have been round offering support. Everyone is numb." William headed off with friends David Lee and Craig Stobbard to Newcastle's Airport Hotel to join sixth-form classmates from Kenton Comprehensive for their Christmas party on Wednesday night. After enjoying the fun, where pals described him as the life and soul of any party, William and Craig set off to walk home. Then, just after 1.20am yesterday, William was struck by a taxi as he tried to cross the slip road on the A696 Wolsington bypass. Tania said: "He was with Craig at the time and he tried to pull William back when he went to cross. He thought he had him but then heard the bang." Magpie-mad William's bedroom is full of medals and trophies he amassed as a goalkeeper with various teams. Tania said: "He lived for his football and his hero was Shay Given. It was his dream to play for Newcastle. Coaches would say he was the best goalie in the North East." Since pulling on goalie gloves as a nine-year-old, William, who would have turned 17 next month, had played for teams in Gosforth and been selected for his county and school side. For the past three seasons he was voted Players' Player by team-mates at Montagu & North Fenham Boys' Club. And after a tournament in the USA with the team earlier this year, William was offered a scholarship to play for a soccer team in Boston. Friend David Lee, 17, said: "He was a professional in the making. He was a die-hard football fan through and through." Montagu manager John Burrage has cancelled this weekend's scheduled match and said a minute's silence will be held before the next fixture. He added: "William was a fantastic goalkeeper and the life and soul of the team. He had trials with Preston North End and the whole team is shocked by this. "He was a great lad and this is a terrible, terrible tragedy." Like most families in the North East, the Hunters were preparing for, and looking forward to, Christmas. Now, alongside the Christmas cards, are cards of sympathy which have come flooding in from neighbours and friends. Sixth-form lessons at Kenton, where William was studying sports leadership and engineering, were scrapped yesterday as staff and pupils came to terms with their loss. Kenton headteacher David Pearmain said: "On behalf of the staff and pupils I have offered our deepest condolences to William's family. "This is terrible news and we're offering support to staff and students in school who are shocked and deeply upset by this tragedy. "William was very popular, both with students and teachers, and was a fine sportsman and a successful, hard-working engineering student. "He will be greatly missed by all those who knew him." William's mother said: "It's a small consolation that he had a great night at his Christmas party and his friends said all the lasses were around him. "William loved Christmas and we were all looking forward to it this year. It's been cancelled now." Police are appealing for any witnesses to the accident to contact them on (0191) 214 655 ext 62792. | 
