TRAGIC Tyanni Tendayi, who died after suffering a brain haemorrhage, was a 'good player and a good friend', according to a coach at the football team he loved to represent.

Matt Lawrence, head coach of the Broad Town Colts, said the 14-year-old had trained with the team on Tuesday last week, before suffering the devastating illness the following day.

Tyanni, of Thorney Park, Wroughton, passed away at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children on Monday.

And Matt, who worked with the Arsenal fan for four or five years with the Colts, said he was a popular member of the squad, who now aimed to pay tribute to him throughout the season through a number of initiatives.

"It's a tragic turn of events," he said. "He was a bright lad who had an amazing future ahead of him.

"He was a real talent. Football-wise, he was incredible, once he had the ball it was impossible to get it off him.

"He was built like a brick wall and a number of times I and others ran into and just bounced off him.

"But he was polite, smart and caring to his teammates and he was hard working.

"He was a good player and a good friend to all of his teammates."

He scored five in four games at the end of last season, including a match-winning hat-trick in one game, Matt said, before the team was told the tragic news.

"The team trained on Tuesday and the boys who came wer very upset, the parents too," he said. "But they have taken it as well as they could have but everyone at the club is very upset."

Now, the team hopes to have the Twitter hashtag #T9 embroidered on shirts to be worn this season, although the number 9 will not be on the field, as the club has retired it in his memory.

"We hope to have the hashtag on our shirts, so he can still be with us this season," Matt added.

Plans are also in the offing for a memorial match between Tyanni's previous club, Wroughton, and the Broad Town Colts.

Matt added: "He was a great lad who will be sorely missed."