Tributes have poured in for a 27-year-old amateur footballer who died after collapsing on the pitch.

Herve King, a former Croydon Athletics player from Wellesley Road, collapsed on the pitch 17 minutes into a game in Crawley on Saturday.

The data analyst had been playing for Ringmer FC against Three Bridges.

He was treated on the pitch and taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, where doctors continued CPR. He was pronounced dead at about 4.45pm.

The incident has stunned supporters and people at the football ground where the mood was sombre even before the death was announced.

Many left the ground in floods of tears.

Fellow team mates followed the ambulance to hospital where doctors told them the tragic news.

Mr King had just re-signed for Ringmer. His previous clubs also included Redhill and Burgess Hill.

A message on the club's website described the "sterling efforts" of all those who tried to revive him. It described the footballer as a charming man who was popular wherever he played.

Redhill were due to play Ringmer tomorrow but the game has been called off.

Croydon Athletic manager Jerry Scola said: "It's very sad news. He was a lovely lad and we certainly had no reason to think there was anything wrong with him. He trained and played as well as anyone else.

"He had a couple of games for us in pre-season but didn't play any league games, and he had a spell at the club when he was younger.

"When we were rebuilding at the start of the season he was a name that came up and we had a look at him."

Redhill president John Park said: "Herve was a great guy - a very popular bloke who gave great service to us. I cannot believe this has happened. It's awful news and I'm sure there will be a lot of supporters devastated to hear this. Our condolences go to his family and Ringmer Football Club."