THE grieving mum of tragic Jay Slater has opened up about his childhood and said: “He was just a normal lad”.
Debbie Duncan told of her son’s love of football – and how he had the “world at his feet” before his life was tragically cut short at 19.
Jay had planned to take his driving test and complete his apprenticeship this summer after his holiday in Tenerife.
Heartbroken Debbie, 56, showed The Sun trophies, pictures and mementos of Jay as she shared fond memories of her son.
Among them was a photo and hand-print of his first day at West End Primary School in 2009.
Grieving Debbie said Jay was “so popular” from a young age and went to a “nice” primary school.
She said: “He was just brilliant. He was kicking a football as soon as he could walk.
“He played for Huncoat United from the age of five, and went through all the teams. He was a left-winger.
“Jay followed Liverpool when he was younger but not as much as as he got older and started working, started his apprenticeship.
“We went to one game together – when Liverpool played at Burnley in 2018.
“We were Liverpool fans in the Burnley end.
“He loved it – he bought a scarf – half of it was Burnley, half of it was Liverpool.
“But he wouldn’t wear it – he made me wear it on the train going home.”
Debbie told how as Jay got older, he found love for music and DJs, and started going to events and following the dance scene.
She added: “It was all work hard, play hard, really.
“Then his football kind of went on a back burner because it was early Saturday morning games, and he didn’t really want to get up on a Saturday morning to play football.
“Jay was due to come home, finish his apprenticeship and take his driving test.
“He was already working on big barn conversions and properties for the building firm and his bosses loved him.”
Debbie clutched a Players’ Player of the year award from his footie team – Huncoat United in Accrington – from 2015/2016.
And Debbie also showed us a trophy Jay received from employers, PH Build, for best apprentice in 2022.
She and brother Zak, 24, told how they took comfort from the hundreds who attended his funeral on August 10 to celebrate his tragically short life.
Zak said: “Jay was the best little brother anyone could ever wish for.
“Always smiling, always happy, just laughing, the life and soul of the party.”
Debbie and Zak told how Jay was devoted to his family and friends, would always dance at events and recently took his mum to see Bob Marley film One Love.
THE anguish of Debbie and Zak – and Jay’s dad, Warren Slater, 58 – has been heightened by vicious attacks by trolls and online smears.
After apprentice bricklayer Jay went missing, wild online stories swirled including that he had stolen a £12,000 watch from a gangster or fallen foul of a drug cartel in Tenerife.
But Debbie said: “He would never have been involved in anything like that.
“He had only been in Tenerife three days – and was at a festival with friends which had wristbands, security and an itinerary.
“I’ve no idea where these drug stories have come from and the stuff about him stealing a watch is nonsense.
“The people saying stuff about him didn’t know Jay and they don’t know us.
“He hasn’t been here to defend himself against all these horrible stories that were going on around the world about him.
“He worked hard, and then at weekends, he loved spending time with his friends.
“But he loved being at home as well.
“He liked cooking and was always in the kitchen with me every night.
“He liked making stir-fries; usually with chicken and he’d throw all sorts in.
“He always had to buy fresh veg and fresh baby sweetcorn and fresh peppers.
“If I bought frozen rubbish, he’d say, I’m not using that.”
They blasted cruel trolls who have shared vicious comments about Jay and their family on social media since Jay disappeared in Tenerife on June 17.
Debbie said: “Jay was just a lovely boy with a massive personality.
“Everybody just loved Jay being in his company – family, friends and work.
“He was loving and popular, always full of fun and smiling – and the main guy in the group.”
Debbie and Zak – one of Jay’s pallbearers – were seen linking arms for support as they walked his coffin to its final resting place at Accrington Crematorium, Lancs surrounded by family and friends.
And distraught Debbie added: “He deserved every bit of what he had at his funeral, with people paying tribute – and none of the abuse he has had.
“I am still trying to process everything, really, and it’s hard to explain how I feel.
“Jay was 19 with the world at his feet.
“He was coming back to a good job and was about to take his driving test.
“He was a normal lad.”
