The University of Central Lancashire has teamed up with Premiership giants Chelsea FC to offer journalism students the opportunity to win an insight into the world of top-flight football as a tribute to scholar Matthew Hesketh.

The Broughton 18-year-old died when a car he was in was involved in a collision with a taxi earlier this year. Matthew was a back seat passenger and died at the scene.

The new Matthew Hesketh award for Sports Journalism will commemorate him.

Matthew was a huge Chelsea fan, so the university arranged with the club for the student who has the highest marks in the first 18 months of their course to get a month's work placement in the Stamford Bridge media office.

Matthew's father Andrew said: "I took Matthew to his first Chelsea match against Bolton Wanderers when he was aged 13. I never went to another match without him until his untimely death.

"From being a small child Matthew was always happy and shared his happiness with everyone he met. He was a kind and caring little boy and this continued through his life to being a young man. The nature of the award in Matthew's name speaks volumes of the impression our son made on people.

"My wife and I were so proud of our son and the 'Matthew Hesketh award for Sports Journalism' is a truly wonderful tribute."

The first winner will be one of Matthew's contemporaries from the 2006 group.

Lecturer Charlie Lambert said: "Matthew was a very capable and popular student whose death was a shocking tragedy.

"I hope it is some small consolation to his parents, Andrew and Hilary, that we are able to inaugurate an annual award to keep his memory alive. It is an award of which Matthew himself would thoroughly approve."

Adam Catterall, 19, of Mill Lane, Goosnargh, is due to stand trial in December, accused of causing death by dangerous driving. He has previously pleaded not guilty.