TRIBUTES have been paid to a newly- wed footballer who died after collapsing during a game on Sunday.

Stephen Connor, 30, a passionate Clarets fan, was playing for Plough FC in the Chorley Nissan Sunday League on a pitch in Kem Mill Lane, Whittle-le-Woods, when he complained of feeling dizzy, collapsing shortly after.

The emergency services were called at 11.05am, 30 minutes into the game against Half Way House FC.

Two opposition players attended to him before paramedics arrived and used a defibrillator and CPR.

The Air Ambulance landed on the pitch at around 11.20am, transport-ing him to Royal Preston Hospital.

However, efforts to revive him were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead.

Mr Connor, who lived in Chorley, was a long-standing Burnley FC fan, nicknamed affectionately by his team mates as “Dingle”.

He was an experienced amateur footballer, playing as a midfielder for around 10 years in the area, and also represented Bangor University.

The former St Michael’s High School pupil had married his partner, Nicola, in September, and they had enjoyed an extended honeymoon in the United States, visiting the Grand Canyon, San Francisco and other cities.

Derek Heighway, league secretary, said: “Everyone associated with the league is in shock.

“It’s absolutely terrible, a real tragedy and he’s only recently got married.”

“Two lads playing for Half Way House were fully-trained first aiders, and they worked tirelessly on him, giving him CPR.

“He’d played Sunday League for a long time and was well known.

“He was a lovely lad.”

Mr Connor had played eight times this season for Plough FC, scoring two goals.

His previous clubs include Whittle Juniors, Euxton Villa, Coppull United, Leyland Red Rose, University of Wales Bangor, Fox and Grapes, and The Queen's.

In a player profile quiz recently, Mr Connor described being picked for his university first team as his best moment in the game. He selected his favourite Burnley FC players as Andy Payton, Stevie Davis, and ‘super’ Glen Little.