FOOTBALL fans have spoken of their ‘devastation’ after a popular Accrington Stanley supporter died.

Jamie Garvey, described by friends as a ‘true and loyal’ fan, died on Sunday morning.

He had watched his beloved club away at Swindon on the Saturday where he was given a shirt by Stanley player Billy Kee.

The Stanley star tweeted: “So sad to wake up to the news that my good friend Jamie passed away yesterday after giving him my shirt at the end of the game.

“Thoughts go out to all his family and friends at this very sad time.”

Accrington Stanley tweeted: “Devastated to hear of the death of Stanley fan Jamie Garvey this morning - he was so pleased to get @billykee29 shirt after yesterday’s match. Our thoughts are with his friends and family #StanleyFamily.”

Stephen Lowe, who was a friend of Jamie’s, said his death was ‘unbelievably sad’.

He said: “He’d just got a shirt off Billy Kee as well so it’s terrible.

“We all know each other as fans and we’d always say hello to each other.

“So it’s unbelievably sad that such a great support of the club has been lost.

“Jamie was part of the Stanley family and he is in all our thoughts.”

Michael Shackleton, who also knew Jamie, said he would go to Stanley games ‘home and away’ and was a ‘massive’ fan.

He said: “I knew him from the away games and he would always say hello and we’d have a bit of banter about Accrington.

“He would go to Stanley games home and away and was a massive win.

“Jamie was also a really nice person, a true and loyal fan.”

Jamie’s death comes after a successful season for Stanley which has seen them promoted to League One as champions.