Southampton Rangers have paid a heart-warming tribute to the late son of their assistant coach Clevie Wade, who passed away last September at the age of 34.

The Premier Division outfit have honoured Wade’s son, Clevie Jr, fondly known by many as “CJ”, by wearing a purple kit that they unveiled during an emotional ceremony held before their T20 Premier Division clash against St George’s at Southampton Oval on Sunday. They will wear the kit for the remainder of the season.

A minute of silence was also observed during the brief ceremony attended by former star cricketer Wade, his wife Leola and daughter Zana.

“This year we are playing in honour of the memory of Clevie and Leola Wade’s son who passed away,” Darren “Butch” Burchall, the Southampton Rangers Sports Club president, told The Royal Gazette.

“The team will wear purple for the rest of the season. Purple is Clevie’s son’s favourite colour and is also the official colour of World Premature Baby Day.

“We are going to be in contact with Bermuda Premature Society and hold a Pot Luck and have them at a couple of games promoting their work.”

Mother Leola said the family is “humbled and honoured” by the warm gesture for her son, who was a huge fan of the club.

“He was an avid Rangers supporter and believed in fairness, commitment and dedication,” she said.

“Small in stature but big in personality and voice. He was very opinionated. His favourite colour was purple. He was born premature and the colour for World Premature Day is purple, so that’s why the team have on purple in honour of him.

“Clevie wanted his daddy to come back. He said ‘Daddy, please go back and coach Rangers’, which he has.

“A big thanks to Dion Stovell who was the brainstorm around this. He was the one who took everything and ran with it.

“Thanks also to president Butchie, the team and the community for doing this. We really feel humbled and honoured.”