An "inspirational" football captain collapsed and died in front of team-mates moments after a cup match in Birmingham.
Father-of-three John Rose slumped at the side of the pitch seconds after his team, Eccleston and Hart FC, had been beaten by Sutton United FC.
Players and paramedics battled in vain to revive former MG Rover worker Mr Rose, aged 36. Yesterday, his shocked team-mates were still trying to come to terms with the death of their skipper, who they described as a popular leader and all-round sportsman. The team may now be renamed in his honour.
Club chairman Bob Windsor said: "As we were walking off the pitch he just collapsed. They got him into the ambulance and to the hospital, but by the time we got there they said there was nothing they could do. Everybody was mortified, totally shocked."
The tragedy happened on Saturday afternoon after the team's away clash with Sutton United FC in Hollyfield Road, Sutton, in the Birmingham Amateur Football Association Veterans' Cup. Eccleston and Hart FC play in Division 2 of the AFA League.
Mr Rose had a partner and three children, had just launched his own business.
