Emile Sinclair dedicated his first goal for Crawley to his best friend who was shot by police two years ago.

The striker kissed a tattoo on his hand which bears the name of Renwick Parkinson after heading a 32nd-minute equaliser against Colchester United on Saturday.

Parkinson grew up playing football with Sinclair in Leeds but was deported to Jamaica after getting into trouble with police and was shot in Montego Bay in June 2011.

Sinclair said: “I lost a close friend a couple of years ago and I always think of him when I am on a football pitch.

“We grew up together in Leeds and if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be playing football now. I almost quit when I was with Bradford and he convinced me to keep going and when I was having a few problems at Nottingham Forest his words made me stick with it.

“When he was deported back to Jamaica it affected me a lot as we were so close and I thought about quitting then. Then when he passed away I considered giving up but the boys at Macclesfield persuaded me to carry on.

“I think about Renwick every day and every time I go on the football pitch I pray to him and want to do well for him.

“That is why I kissed the tattoo on my hand when I scored. I wanted to dedicate my first goal for Crawley to him and hopefully I can get many more.”