LOVED ones of Macaulay Campbell will emotionally gather for an emotional celebration of his life.

Hundreds are expected to pay their respects to the talented sportsman, killed in a road crash last week, at a service at Romsey Abbey on Thursday, March 17.

Mourners will gather from 11.30am for a memorial before there will be a private committal at Wessex Vale Crematorium.

Donations in memory of Macaulay, who was known as Mac, in lieu of flowers can be made to c/o J Beavis & Sons, Vincent Street, Southampton, SO15 5PB.

Switch nightclub is hosting a club night on Saturday, April 2 - just two days before what would have been the sportsman’s 21st birthday.

The event will also to generate more funds for the MacFest festival friends and family are trying to organise later in the year.

Ryan Keary, who runs the venue, said a line-up has yet to be announced but said tickets are due to be released this week, adding: “It will be a fundraiser celebrating his 21st birthday and get everybody together.

“We are going to do as much as we can as a venue and we have a few people in mind.”

Ryan, who plays for Fareham Heathens rugby club and has faced Mac in previous games, said : “He was a very talented rugby player and it’s a very sad situation.”

Trbiutes to the 20-year-old were solemnly held around rugby grounds across Hampshire and at Saints’ match against Chelsea.

An image of Macauley was beamed from an electronic board at St Mary’s stadium at half time during Saturday’s Premier League clash.

Rugby players across the county stood-shoulder wearing black armbands to observe a minute’s silence before Hampshire Rugby Football Union (RFU) matches in memory of the Romsey Rugby Club star.

And Radio One DJ Nick Grimshaw has become the latest celebrity to back the bid for a festival, called Macfest, in memory of the 20-year-old which thousands of people are backing after an astonishing online campaign went viral.

Southampton singer Craig David and musicians such as Stormzy, Radio One DJs Charlie Sloth, Scott Mills and Bestival and Common People organiser Rob Da Bank are supporting it, while a crowdfunding account has soared over the £18,000 mark.

It comes as a celebration of Mac’s life has been arranged for next month in Romsey and before a memorial night is held at a Southampton nightclub - two days before what would be his 21st birthday.

As previously reported Mac, from Rownhams, died when his black VW Lupo was involved in a collision with another car on the A3057 near Romsey Golf Club at about 10.30pm last Saturday.

It was just hours after he was named man-of-the-match during a crucial match.

Romsey Rugby Club cancelled Saturdays match against Southsea Nomads RFC as a mark of respect.

Up to 150 people – including fellow Romsey players - gathered in Romsey Sports Centre to remember him and to watch television coverage of the Six Nations clash between England and Ireland.

Fellow player and close friend Ally Wood, 21, who flew back from Australia after hearing of Mac’s death was at the gathering and said: “He was the life and soul of the party - always one of the happiest guys you could have around. He was one of the most genuine guys you could ever meet.”

Jed Easton, 20, added: “To see the support for him has been a beautiful thing. He was a trustworthy and loyal guy. We are all like family here and we are going to miss him.”

Anyone with any information about the crash should contact Hampshire police on 101 quoting Operation Castington or incident number 44160074729.

See https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Mac-Campbell-Fund for the fundraising page or follow @MacFest2016 or use the #MacFest and and #MacFest2016 hastags on Twitter.