Tributes have been paid to much-loved football coach, maintenance man and dad-of-four, Steve Cooke, following his death from Covid-19.

A coach for the Under-13s at Anchorians Football Club in Gillingham, Steve passed away on Boxing Day aged just 35.

The club have set up a fundraising page to help support his wife and young family.

Anchorians chairman Leigh Willis said the club and Steve's family had been overwhelmed by the response to the page, which had raised almost £6,000 in under 24 hours.

"We just wanted to do something for the family now during this really difficult time," he said. "We wanted to thank Steve for all he did for our club and do something to support the family.

"It's just gone crazy with the donations. We weren't expecting that. We had a message from his wife to say she was overwhelmed by the kindness shown.

"It won't bring back their husband and father but it will maybe bring some solace and maybe take some of the burden off them in a difficult time."

"He always had a smile on his face - he was just a lovely guy."

He said Steve was a kind person who had given much of his time to the club, adding: "I always had a chat with him when I saw him. He had been part of the club for six years and had given a lot to the club over the years in terms of supporting us developing kids and helping with other elements of the club.

"He was up there three to four times a week. He was a really nice, lovely person who would always give you the time of day. Nothing was too much trouble.

"I would see him every Saturday morning walking up to the club with his son - that's the lasting memory of him I will have but will never see again.

"He always had a smile on his face - he was just a lovely guy."

A tribute on the fundraising page described Steve as "a true grassroots hero" and a big part of the Anchorians Archers who would be dearly missed by all at the club.

"I also think it's sad it takes something like this to wake people up and show them it's in the community, and that it can happen to you."

"It's just so sad," added Leigh. "From what I understand he didn't have underlying health conditions. I also think it's sad it takes something like this to wake people up and show them it's in the community, and that it can happen to you.

"Everyone knows someone who has had it and past away now. The first time around I don't think people thought too much about it in this area."

Steve also worked as a maintenance man at Warren Wood Primary School, and head teacher Louise Hardie said he would be greatly missed.

“Like everyone, we are devastated to hear of Steve’s passing and send our deepest condolences to Steve’s family," she said. "He was a genuinely lovely man, always helpful, nothing was ever too much trouble for him.

"We have such a close knit community at the school and his mum works here and two of his children are pupils at Warren Wood.

"It’s a real tragedy for his family and a huge loss for everyone.”

Donate to the fundraising page by clicking here.

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