TRIBUTES have been flooding in from the team mates of a young footballer who died in hospital on Wednesday.

Football-mad Rhiannon Brown, 15, was a goalkeeper and part of the Girls' Development Programme for three years, within the Football in the Community Trust.

The Dorcan Academy pupil gave much of her time helping on the holiday courses and also played for the Swindon Ladies Under-16s team.

As news broke of her death, team mates and coaches paid tribute to a youngster described as a great character, who simply loved football with an unquenchable passion.

One of her teammates posted on Facebook: “Words can’t describe the pain I’m feeling because you’re gone. Such an inspirational girl with so much potential. With your heart of gold and your bubbly attitude everyone around you loved you unconditionally.

“Thank you for your friendship, compassion and good times we spent together.”

The Community Trust described Rhiannon as someone with a great ability to work with youngsters and her passion for the game came out in the way she coached.

Rhiannon’s U16 coach and mentor Shane Hewlett said: “Rhiannon was so passionate and dedicated to playing and coaching, she loved representing Swindon Town and took pride in her attention to detail in improving herself and supporting her team mates.

“With Rhiannon, it was so evident to see how powerful football can be within someone’s life. For Football in the Community Trust Rhiannon will be irreplaceable.”

The team’s sponsor, Trak Employment Solutions, also paid tribute and described one particular story from the team’s trip to Sweden.

Carl McCulloch, the managing director, said: “We were lucky enough to accompany Rhiannon and her team to Sweden in 2013 and see what football meant to her and the girls.

“She even saved the final penalty in a shootout out to get her team to the quarter finals.

“She was a big character within the team and will be sorely missed. It's absolutely tragic that someone so young can be taken so early with their whole life ahead of them.”

A spokesman for Swindon Town Football Club said: “The club were saddened to hear the news of the tragic passing of Rhiannon Brown.

"The thoughts of everyone at Swindon Town are with Rhiannon’s family at this difficult time.”