A football club has vowed to keep the memory of a ‘true gentleman’ alive after a player of over 25 years died after falling ill at a training session.

Friends, players and coaches at Hale End AFC based at Wadham Lodge in Walthamstow were left in ‘total shock’ in November last year when tragedy struck at their training ground.

Father-of-three Suhail Butt, 47, was playing football when he became ill.

Mr Butt who was living in Enfield with his family at the time was kept alive for 25 minutes by his team mates, one of whom was a nurse, before the Ambulance Service arrived.

A team of eight worked on him for two hours.

During that time on the pitch he had two heart attacks.

He died later in hospital on November 28, 2014.

Club secretary and friend John Brooks paid tribute to Mr Butt who joined the club aged 19.

“He was very popular – one of the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet. He never moaned, never had a bad word to say,” he said.

“If you could have predicted this to happen to anyone, it would not have been him, he was one of the fittest people at the club.

“It was a real shock for the guys, they did everything they could for him – there was three of them taking it in turn to keep him alive.

“He used to bring his kids along and the boys had shirts made and would sometimes come along to training.

“One thing that has come out of this is the club has a defibrillator.”

Dan Magil who helps run one of the two over 35s teams, known as ‘vets teams’ said: “Suhail left behind a devastated wife, three children, family, friends and team mates.

“Everyone has a favourite memory of Suhail on the pitch, be it a goal, tackle or words of encouragement. Those who had the pleasure of being his team mate cannot forget his battling performances, especially when the going got tough.

“Always a gentleman on and off the pitch, Suhail went out of his way to ensure new players were made welcome into the club. We will all miss his gentle nature and infectious smile before games as he walked into the clubhouse with his lovely boys. “Hale End AFC will never forget our ‘Sid’.”

There will be an annual tournament at the club with the winners taking home the Suhail Butt memorial trophy, beginning this year.

There will be a BBQ and open event for the public on the day of the tournament. The date is yet to be confirmed.

All funds raised will be donated to charity.