Former footballer Gary Pearson has died after collapsing at home. The former Sheffield United, Darlington and York professional was just 45.
He had recently taken over as manager at Billingham Town FC and was looking forward to the new season. Club chairman, Kevin Close, paid tribute to him saying he would have been "the best manager" the club would ever have had.
He told how Gary had passed away two weeks after suffering a heart attack while on the pitch. He had undergone surgery and was relaxing at home where he was expected to make a complete recovery.
