Manchester City player Jack Grealish donated £5,000 to help with funeral costs after an Aston Villa supporter was tragically found dead on Saturday.
Shawn Francis, 29, was expecting his first child this summer with his partner of five years, Danielle. A donation page set up in his memory has already raised more than £21,000 - which includes a £5,000 donation from friend and Blues forward Grealish.
On Saturday, a balloon release will be held at the Castle Vale Stadium in Birmingham. People in attendance have asked to release claret and blue balloons to mark Shawn's love and passion for Villa, reports the Birmingham Mail.
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A tribute on Shawn's Instagram page read: "Heaven gained the most beautiful and purest angel of all. Our hearts will forever be missing a huge piece that you filled. You were the most caring, loving, honest and fun person who deserved more from life.
"Our son will be your legacy and we know that through him you will always be with us. He will always know how special and amazing his daddy is.
"Words will never measure the joy and love you brought us all and, until we meet again, love you. Rest in heavenly paradise, you have gone home to your mom and dad now. Love you always our angel."
Grealish, who hails from Birmingham, made 213 appearances for Villa before leaving for City in 2021. He registered 32 goals and 43 assists for his boyhood club and helped them secure promotion to the Premier League in the 2018/19 campaign.
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