A tribute to fallen soldier Rifleman Peter Aldridge has been organised at a football match between Folkestone Invicta and Croydon FC on April 20.

The “swift and bold” soldier was the 250th to die in Afghanistan since the war began in 2001, after getting caught in a blast while on foot patrol in the deadly town of Sangin in Helmand Province.

He was just 19-years-old when he was killed on January 22.

Folkestone Invicta has twice organised a minute’s silence at their matches to remember the teenager, who moved to the area with his family from Croydon two years ago.

However these matches were cancelled because of the snow. When the club learned they had a fixture with Croydon FC, they decided to organise a substantial tribute to the fallen soldier.

A notice on the club’s website reads: “With the blessing of the Aldridge family, we will invite the town to join with us to pay our respects to Rifleman Aldridge on Tuesday April 20, when Croydon Athletic are our visitors.

"As the Aldridge family came to Folkestone from Croydon two years ago, this presents the opportunity to do something more substantial in the young man's memory.

“We believe there are very many in the local community who would value the opportunity to share in our commemoration of a young life lost in the service of his country, and to demonstrate that as a Garrison Town Folkestone, like Wootton Bassett, is ready to recognise our Armed Forces and the sacrifices they bear.

"All will be welcomed irrespective of whether they wish to stay on for the match itself.”

The club is inviting anyone to join them from 7pm for the tribute. There will be a miniute’s silence before kick off at 7.45pm preceded by a roll-call of organisations, businesses, schools and clubs in and around Folkestone and Croydon.

The club are planning on waiving their normal gate fee to allow free entry and will organise a gate collection for charity Help the Heroes.

Rifleman Aldridge joined the army as a member of the Royal Green Jackets after spending his youth in the 148 Signals Cadets, Old Coulsdon.

His regiment, the fourth battalion The Rifles, suffered numerous casualties in the same area last year, including Rifleman Danny Simpson from Shirley.

His mother Caroline Aldridge said her son’s last words to his father were: “This was the path in life I had to take, a hardship I had to bare, to earn the right as a citizen, an Englishman and really my own place in the world.”