Sheffield United and Swansea City pay emotional tribute to popular local player after tragic death at just 24

Tom Collier, a Blades fan who had a season ticket on the Kop and played up front for Hammer and Pincers FC, passed away as he travelled to a game against Sheffield Wanderers earlier this month.

A former King Ecgbert pupil, the school paid tribute to a “great sportsman” after his passing and supporters of both the Blades and Swans joined in a minute’s applause in the ninth minute of Saturday’s game, to mark the number he wore for Hammer and Pincers.

“He just loved playing football,” his manager Dave Oxley told The Star. “And that’s where he was going when it happened. It’s hit us all very hard, because he was a great, great kid.

“He was a good laugh, our No.9 and top goalscorer. He scored goals and loved to hog the ball! But he was a big part of things off the pitch, too.

“We’re a really close-knit bunch and he was at the centre of that, too. It’s a group that does everything together and Tom was a big part of that. He certainly never missed a night out!

“He wasn’t supposed to be playing that day. He was supposed to be working, but he rang me on the Friday and said the job was off and so he could play. He asked me if I wanted him.