TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular football manager who died of a heart attack aged 42.

Huntingdonshire Football Association said it was “devastated” by the death of its Representative Team Manager Andy Mills less than year into his role.

Mr Mills, who had previously been a coach and manager at Yaxley, joined the Hunts FA in January with the task of putting together a top under 18s side.

“In the time that we’d known him, we became very impressed with the way he worked, his commitment and his attention to detail,” County Secretary Mark Frost said.

“He had already gained the trust and respect of the squad of players he had gathered together. We were very impressed with what he had started to do.”

Mr Mills suffered a heart attack on Saturday, September 15 and died two days later.

His death meant he did not get to see the side he put together play its first competitive match but he did see his side earn a 1-1 draw against Middlesex in a pre-season match.

Since being appointed in January he had spent time looking at the various under 17 sides in the district to decide who to invite for trials.

He had also put together a new management team.

“The squad he had begun to put together was already bearing through,” Mr Frost said.

Mr Mills, who lived in Peterborough, is survived by his wife Julie and two young daughters Freya and Alex.

His funeral will take place at Holy Trinity Church, Orton Longueville, at 2.30pm on Friday (September 28), with the family asking people to donate money to a trust fund for his daughters instead of giving flowers.

Hunts FA has offered to take donations from people and pass the money to the family.

Mr Frost added: “The whole County is devastated at his loss. He was a really nice person and a gentleman.”

Writing one the Hunts FA Facebook page, Carl Johnson said: “One of my best friend’s and an inspiration to me and many other’s...it’s a massive shame we won’t get to finish what we started together xx.”