Tributes have been paid to a "football mad" man who "wore his heart on his sleeve".
Matthew Mutch, from Maghull, was 25 years old when he lost his battle with cancer in June this year. His close friend Adam Edwards paid tribute to Matthew ahead of a charity football match dedicated to his life.
The match will take place at Matthew's former club Maghull FC where he undertook roles as both a player and a coach. Adam described Matthew as the "guy you wanted next to you on the pitch".
READ MORE : More bus strikes in Merseyside as Arriva workers to join Stagecoach drivers on picket line
Matthew was diagnosed with osteosarcoma the day after his 20th birthday in 2017. In April of that year, he underwent an above-knee amputation on his right leg.
Speaking to the ECHO Adam said: "At first it was heartbreaking to see someone you have grown up with go through that it knocks you. It knocked me, he was my teammate, a leader, and to see him go through something so terrible was gutting.
"But how he pulled through his operation and how he fought even after losing his leg to back to the club and get back involved with football as a coach was amazing. And he was the exact same person after his operation nothing knocked him down we more people need to be like Matthew."
During the 18 months he was cancer-free Matthew went on seven different holidays around the world with his girlfriend Chloë who said they "lived a life full of adventure". Adam, 25, said: "He loved the bones of his girlfriend and she brought out such a romantic side in him.
"It was the strongest relationship you could ever see and they shared some amazing memories together. Matthew got the best out of everyone anyone around him he pulled everyone through it and he always had your back on and off the pitch."
The football match dedicated to Matthew's life will take on the July 17 against two of his former teams. To donate click here.
Receive our weekly Sefton Live newsletter and breaking news email alerts by signing up here.
READ NEXT:
Woman, 66, told she doesn't qualify for any State Pension
Netflix Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown swoons over Liverpudlian trait
Rare 50p coin sells for £225 with thousands more out there
