Family pay tribute to huge Sheffield Wednesday fan and former adviser to Nelson Mandela

One of 12 children, John Loxley, 77, was born and raised on a council estate in Parson Cross and attended King Edward VII School before winning a scholarship to study at the University of Leeds. He went on to work as an economic adviser to several African governments – including the incoming government of Nelson Mandela in South Africa – and was a lecturer at the University of Manitoba, with a scholarship there awarded in his name.

The father-of-four died peacefully on 28 July surrounded by family and friends in Winnipeg, Canada, having lived in the country since 1975.

A tribute to him in the Winnipeg Free Press read: “His working class upbringing and big loving family profoundly shaped his perspective and orientation to the world.”

John’s sister Verna Coulton, who still lives in Sheffield, said: “John was a modest, unassuming working class man. He retained his Yorkshire accent and had a wicked sense of humour.

“He was an inspiration to all and a relentless soldier for social and economic justice at home in Canada and abroad.”

John, a devoted Sheffield Wednesday fan, would regularly take a detour via Sheffield when he travelled internationally through his work and stay with Verna. He would also visit Hillsborough as often as he could – and even set up a team named after the Owls in Canada.

“For 20 years he coached his kids' soccer teams, gave players rides and ensured that financial barriers didn't prevent anyone from participating,” the Winnipeg Free Press reported.

Verna said: “When he was dying he had his shirt on and both his sons are fans, even though they never lived in Sheffield.

"One of his colleagues summed it up well: most people want to be the hero in their own life, John was the hero in everyone’s life.”

Verna’s daughter and John’s niece, Lesley Pendleton, added: “He was an amazing man who lived an extraordinary life making a real difference to the world.”