TRIBUTES have been paid to a hero of grassroots football who has died suddenly at the age of 43.

Craig McDonald was the third generation of his family to run Stamfordham’s football team. He was also an active committee member at Ponteland United, and was on the verge of taking over as the Northern Alliance Premier Division club’s matchday secretary.

The former Ponteland High School pupil, who lived at Throckley in more recent years, was also looking forward to moving into a new home, at Cramlington.

He died on Saturday after suffering a suspected heart attack. A spokesman for the coroner said a post mortem would follow.

Football referee Colin Smith, who is secretary of the Hexham and District Sunday League, said: “Craig was one of the heroes of grassroots football.

“He absolutely loved it, and for years he kept that Stamfordham team going even if he had to play in goal to make the numbers up.

“He would mark out the pitch, put the nets up, fix windows in the pavilion, and was always full of hope and optimism about making the team better.

“I can’t imagine Stamfordham without Craig. The whole local football community will miss him enormously.”

Ponteland United secretary Alan Birkinshaw, a long-term friend of Craig, said: “We’re all absolutely devastated to lose Craig and just can’t believe this has happened.

“He had hoped to go away on a football trip to Liverpool last weekend with the Ponteland first team lads, to mark the end of the season.

“But he didn’t go because it coincided with him completing his house move, and sadly Craig was taken from us that same weekend.”

Alan said Craig’s commitment to Stamordham’s football team stemmed from his grandfather Jack, and father Angus, who both played for and managed the side.

He explained: “It must have been in the blood for Craig, and he first played for Stamfordham as a towering defender in his late teens, before going on to run the team.

“Despite his attachment to Stamfordham, he was also looking forward to becoming matchday secretary for the Ponteland first team next season.”

Craig attended Ponteland’s Richard Coates Middle School and Ponteland High.

He went on to become a dye maker in the printing trade, working for Graphic Packaging International at Gateshead.