A TALENTED Suffolk teenager who died in a car crash has been remembered at her funeral as having integrity and “always being strong for others”.

Emma Holloway, 19, a pupil of King Edward VI School in Bury St Edmunds and footballer with AFC Sudbury Ladies, died in the crash on the A134 between the villages of Cockfield and Bradfield Combust about two weeks ago.

Yesterday, St Edmundsbury Cathedral was packed with family, friends, classmates and fellow players from AFC Sudbury who had come to pay their respects and remember the Badwell Ash teenager.

Miss Holloway’s father Neil made a moving statement in honour of his daughter.

He said: “Emma, it gives us some comfort to know you are not alone and you are now with your sister Alice and we want you to know you have made us all so proud and you have left us with so many memories we will cherish forever.

“You will always be in our hearts and will never ever be forgotten. We will always love you. You truly are a legend.”

Miss Holloway’s football talent earned her the nickname “The Legend”.

Geoff Barton, headteacher at King Edward’s, spoke of her work with physically disabled children. He said: “Little by little she built the self-belief of children who might have written themselves off as never enjoying sport.”

Mr Barton said Miss Holloway had meant a great deal to the school and added that King Edward’s would be establishing an Emma Holloway Memorial Trophy and a trust fund in her name.

He said she was one of those students who did not seek attention, and was quiet, polite, kind and thoughtful, but you really saw her personality and “raw talent” shine through when she was on the football pitch.

The Reverend Mark Hunt said what was most important was the “intensity, quality and integrity” of Miss Holloway’s life, rather than dwelling on what she might have achieved.

mariam.ghaemi@eadt.co.uk