Oliver is remembered at Ewood Park
When Oliver James Mee was brutally murdered, his friends and team-mates chose to remember him in a way they knew he would appreciate – through football.
They started their own football club, OJM FC, and this year they have reached the final of the national FA Sunday League Cup, to be played this weekend. It's the first year they have entered the competition.
Mee was bludgeoned to death with a hammer by friend Adam Buckley, high on cocaine, in 2007. Both men had played for Bearwood FC, where many of OJM's players met each other.
Buckley, of Ethel Street, Smethwick, was jailed for 19 years after being convicted of murder at Wolverhampton Crown Court in 2009.
Joint manager Adam Younis remembered: "The worst thing about it was they were best friends.
"Oliver went to see him and was attacked. People that knew Oliver were cut up about it.
"He worked locally in a petrol station, so everybody used to see him every day. Just before the start of the 2007 season, we decided we wanted to carry on his name and keep him in our memories."
Starting in Division Five of the Warley and District Sunday League, OJM had a successful first year. They positioned strongly and got to the final of the league cup.
They impressed league organisers and, although they didn't actually win their league, were promoted five leagues to Premier One.
Younis – whose side play at Thimblemill Rec in Smethwick – said: "Even though we didn't win the league, we held our own.
"They told us 'you're going to be decent enough to go up' and I was pensive about it to start with, but the rest is history.
"We've always come runners-up or won a few cups, but this has been our most successful year."
This week they will be preparing for their FA Sunday League Cup final appearance against Liverpool-based outfit Campfield at Ewood Park.
It's the home ground of Championship side and former Premier League champions Blackburn Rovers.
But their nerves have been shaken by a poor performance in the John Rochelle Cup, where they lost against Lamp Albion 2-1. It is only their second loss of the season.
"I think attentions were drawn elsewhere," Younis said. "It was a shame for us to lose, but it was a kick up the behind. We're not unbeatable.
"It's the worst I've ever seen us play. We looked nervous.
"I have confidence in my boys that we can do it on Sunday. We've got some talented young players.
"It all comes down to the way we play on the day. If we don't play well enough and we still scrape a win you put it down to luck, but you can't go into a match and expect to win from luck."
The squad have also set themselves the challenge of winning their first league.
They will need to win the rest of their games to lift the league title on goal difference.
Looking back, Younis is happy with the team's performance, saying they hope to fix the few regrets they have as a team.
"We could have done things differently," he added. "Unfortunately we haven't won a league in the eight years, but that's one of our goals.
"I'd rather win a league medal than a cup. It's like Arsenal winning the FA Cup but never having the league.
"Next year we're going to keep moving forward. We're the highest level for Sundays right now – if we don't win the league we will try again next year.
"The main aim will be to seal the league and then go for the national and local cups. You never get remembered for being a runner-up."
OJM reached the final with a 4-2 victory over New Salamis thanks to a brace from Sean Williams, one from Rico Taylor Nelsen and another by Masimba Matapo.
Among those set to line up in Sunday's final include midfielder Darius Darkin – a former Villa youth player – and ex-Port Vale men Danny Roberts and Sean Taylor.
