Tributes paid to much loved football coach who tragically died at Twickenham Stadium

KentOnline / KMTV

KMTV spoke to Mitchell Bonney just weeks ago as he was campaigning to save his football team from having to close. His family have described him as the most loving man.

Transcript

00:00 He was the most loving man with a heart of gold and he would do anything for anyone.

00:05 The words of Mitchell Bonney's wife following his sudden death whilst working at Twickenham

00:09 Stadium.

00:10 The 35-year-old was a manager at Upchurch Colts FC where he coached the club's under-9s

00:16 boys team.

00:17 It was there where his wife Kaylee says he touched the hearts of so many people.

00:21 In a Facebook post she wrote, "My Mitchell, my husband, my love, my best friend, my soulmate

00:28 was taken away from me and my children.

00:31 He absolutely adored us and we were his everything.

00:35 My heart is broken and is shattered.

00:37 I will never understand why he's been taken away from us.

00:40 It's far too soon."

00:41 KMTV spoke to Mitchell just two months ago when he was campaigning to save his team from

00:47 disbanding.

00:49 He spoke to us highly of the team that he loved so much.

00:52 "They've done superbly well.

00:54 They've listened.

00:55 They've got a great bunch of players, really good characters.

00:59 And again, they've just developed.

01:01 I don't care about the wins.

01:03 I don't care about the scorelines.

01:04 I don't care about how many goals we scored at the end of the season.

01:08 When I look at each player, an individual player, I look at them and go, 'Right, have

01:11 you improved?

01:12 Have I done well for you?

01:13 Have you got a smile on your face?

01:14 Do you want to come back and play again next year?'

01:17 And if all those are yeses, brilliant.

01:19 That's what football's all about.

01:20 It's non-competitive.

01:21 I shouldn't be looking at the wins, the goals.

01:23 It's just down to their general happiness and development."

01:27 In this clip, Mitchell can be heard thanking the boys for behaving and coping so well whilst

01:31 a camera was around.

01:44 According to the Metropolitan Police, Mitchell was working when he fell and died.

01:48 No other details have been made public, however the Health and Safety Inspectorate says that

01:52 an investigation has now been opened.

01:55 The club has now been taken over by Mitchell's best friend, who organised a memorial match

01:59 on Sunday where friends and family set off balloons in his honour.

02:04 If nothing else, the Upchurch Colts boys will always remember Mitchell Bonney by the mantra

02:08 he instilled in them.

02:19 Bartholomew Hall for KMTV.

02:21 What do we say?

02:22 Thank you!

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