Wayne Pooler

The family of a Shropshire man who died after collapsing while playing football today described him as the “greatest dad and fiance ever”.

Nicola Burgess, who was engaged to Wayne Pooler, said the father-of-three, of Telford, would “do anything for anybody”.

Mr Pooler, 40, of Tweedale Crescent, Madeley, died in hospital after collapsing during the game in Sutton Hill.

Miss Burgess, 34, said he had stepped in to play after going to  a training session with his family.

She said: “He just went to watch and decided he was going to play in goal to help the girls out. There was a free kick. I turned around and he was on the floor.

“One lad was knelt down over him and called people over.”

The tragedy happened at the end of a training session for Madeley Sports ladies team in Bluebell Park, Sandcroft, on Tuesday night.

Mr Pooler, who also has three children Laurie, Kian, and Keeley, was taken to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton but died shortly after arrival.

Miss Burgess said: “He was the greatest dad ever and the best fiance I could have asked for.”

She said he had not been suffering from ill-health. She added the Liverpool fan, who was made redundant from Johnson Controls about a year ago, had been coaching Madeley United under-eight’s team for about two years.

Mr Pooler’s daughter, Laurie, has set up a Facebook tribute page, Wayne Pooler We Love You. More than 100 people have joined already.