Tributes have been paid to ex-Morecambe and Lancaster City footballer George Melling, who has lost his battle with Motor Neurone Disease, aged 37.
Central defender George had a distinguished playing career, including spells with both the Shrimps and the Dolly Blues, as well as at clubs including Blackpool, Altrincham, Northwich Victoria, Leyland Town, Kendal Town, Clitheroe and Colne FC.
He was diagnosed with MND in January 2021 and passed away earlier today.
A GoFundMe page set up last year to ‘Help Big G Fight MND’, raised more than £12,300.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/helping-big-g-aka-george-melling-fight-mnd
Since the news broke of George’s passing, tributes have flooded in from across the footballing world and beyond.
Paying tribute, George’s wife, Nicci, said: ‘’Heaven gained the best angel early hours this morning and we were all by his side right to the very end.
‘’Everyone is so very proud of the horrendous battle that you tried so hard to fight.
‘’MND is not the definition of George Melling, it was just the cruel, cruel disease that took him away from us.
‘’He was a fantastic father, a terrible dancer, the life and soul of the party and I’m so very proud to call him my husband.
‘’Once met never forgotten!!! When he walked in a room you knew about it!! You couldn’t help but love him. The twinkle in his eye and that cheeky wink, his presence was infectious.
‘’You really will leave a massive hole in everybody’s hearts
‘’I’m now going to repeat one on the cheesiest things that you once said to me, and I actually mean it….
“I miss you so much, even when I blink my eyes, I miss you.’’
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