Footballer who was 'heartbeat' of club dies in Amsterdam tragedy

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Tributes have been paid to a footballer who was the "heartbeat" of his club's community after he tragically died in Amsterdam.Swansea club Pontlliw FC announced the death of their lifelong player Charlie Batcup, 30, and said he had enriched the lives of all of their players and club members.Charlie died while he was in the Netherlands and the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) said they were supporting the family of a British man.During the Euro 2024 qualifier in Armenia on Saturday, Wales international footballer Joe Rodon was seen wearing a shirt in tribute to Charlie beneath his kit, Wales Online reports.Pontlliw FC paid tribute to their player on Sunday and said he would always be in their thoughts.The full statement said: "Pontlliw FC is heartbroken and devastated to announce that our player, club man and dear friend Charlie Batcup has tragically passed away."Charlie was a huge part of the club in a way that words cannot describe and his passing has left a huge void in our club which we will never be able to replace.

A lifelong Pontlliw player with fantastic ability Charlie was a massive asset on the pitch in every team that he played in. Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. "Off the field he was the heartbeat of our club community and personified our ethos of camaraderie, inclusivity, and cohesion.

We are struggling to imagine an away day, social event, or even a Saturday afternoon without Charlie’s presence and he will always be in our thoughts now and forever. "However difficult it seems to us right now we believe that Charlie would want us to carry on, to continue growing this great club and achieve our future