TRIBUTES have been paid to a talented young footballer who has died suddenly aged 25.

Father of one Nathan Coyne passed away on Saturday, December 5, with his death prompting an outpouring of grief across social media from friends and teammates.

A Crowdfunding page has been set up in Nathan’s memory with the aim of raising money to cover his funeral and has so far raised over £4,500.

Paying tribute on the page, friend Cal Wright, wrote: “Coyney will be well and truly be missed by more people he could ever have imagined and will forever live on in people’s hearts and memories.”

Friends of the former Thornleigh Salesian College student have said they will embark on a walk up Newlands Horseshoe in the Lake District before Christmas and release lanterns in his memory.

The 25-year-old was well known as a gifted footballer who played for a number of sides across Bolton and worked as a coach for Bolton Wanderers Community Trust.

Paying tribute to his former teammate, Lostock-based CMB FC captain Will Archer said Nathan was a “beautiful footballer”.

He said: “As a football club over the years you are represented by an eclectic selection of characters.

“The majority a hardworking technically frustrated bunch with an eternal optimism that creates the foundation, others journeyman who pass through without a ripple.

“But if you’re lucky every once in a while a player comes along with more time on the ball, plays the game with ease and has a left foot with a grace and elegance most can only dream of.

“A player that can produce a moment that makes all the hard work that goes into a local football club worth while.

“Nathan Coyne was a beautiful footballer. He was a precious talent that we knew needed a footballing home.

“We felt he found that here and he enjoyed the highs of winning a leagues and the lows of cup final defeats over a long spell at the club.

“We saw him grow into a man and later on a father whose smile brightened up the changing room and clubhouse. It was a pleasure to have him here and it’s our honour and duty as a club to make sure his name is remembered.”

Following Nathan’s death, Mark Murray, director of charity WHYSUP, visited CMB FC and another of Nathan’s sides, Stoneclough FC, to support the players.

“It is tragic,” added Mark. “We wanted to do something and give something back at each of the clubs Nathan played at.”