Family and friends are mourning the loss of former Luton Town Ladies FC footballer Fay Howell, who has died suddenly at the age of 25.
Miss Howell, who joined the club aged 13, is understood to have passed away at her home in Milton Keynes on Tuesday.
A post-mortem is due to take place tomorrow (Friday) and first team manager Dave Baker said he currently had no details as to what had caused her death.
“It’s absolutely tragic, her family are distraught,” he said. “Fay really had the world at her feet.
“She had a huge circle of friends and left a positive impression on everyone she met.
“She had had to step back from football as she was doing so well in her career as an engineer for Network Rail.”
Miss Howell was born in Luton and later moved to Bugbrooke in Northamptonshire with dad Mick, who until recently was first team coach at the football club, mum Theresa and older sister Kelly.
The talented footballer was also a drummer in a rock band, Roses and Pirates, whose debut EP has just been released.
The band had played a gig at the Sno Bar at Xscape in Milton Keynes on Friday and were due to play at the Slug and Lettuce tonight.
A statement on the band’s Facebook page said: “Sorry to inform you that last night we received heartbreaking news that our amazing drummer Fay has sadly passed away.
“We are all in shock and grieving at the moment.
“Our thoughts are with her family at such a sad time. We will miss you more than you’ll ever know Fay, rest in peace - you’ll be in our hearts forever.”
Tributes have been also been posted on Twitter, and a statement on the Luton Town Ladies website reads: “We will all remember her for that trusty left foot and speed but most of all for just being Fay.
“Fay was highly thought of by her teammates and management at Luton and we have been flooded with tributes to her since learning of her untimely death.”