A COMMUNITY is in mourning following the death of a keen sportsman who died while playing football.

Kelvin McIntosh was playing for the village team he enthusiastically supported, when he collapsed and died at the weekend.

The player, 24, who lived with his parents Dave and Judith McIntosh at Croxdale, had loved sport since he was a schoolboy.

As a teenager he represented the county in running and went on to secure a place in the British Championships in taikwondo.

He played rugby league for the Durham Tigers and Gateshead Mets and was a competent skater and snowboarder.

Before he died he was looking forward to going snowboarding with his girlfriend of five years Kimberley Hutchinson.

He had also completed the coast-to-coast cycle route, raising hundreds of pounds for charity.

But it was for his modest Sunday League team of Croxdale and Hett Workingmen's Club that he held the strongest allegiance.

Kimberley, 21, who was preparing to set up home with Kelvin, spoke about what happened during the football match.

She said: "His team were playing Binchester on Sunday when Kelvin suddenly felt dizzy and fell to his knees."

Despite desperate medical efforts Kelvin failed to recover.

As hundreds of tributes poured into their home, Kelvin's mother said: "There will never be anyone like Kelvin again. He was loved by everybody, he was passionate about sport and passionate about people."

She said the family, including his 29-year-old brother Shaun and grandparents Allen and Ada Price, were all in deep shock.

His death is understood to have been through natural causes.

Struggling to come to terms with her loss, Kimberley said: "The whole community is in mourning, many people were so shocked they were unable to go to work."

A funeral service is being held this Friday at 9.45am at St Bartholomew's Church in Sunderland Bridge, followed by a cremation at South Road Cemetery at 10.30am. Members of the village football team will act as pall-bearers.