leahortez86

leahortez

RELATIVES today paid tribute to a lifelong Stoke City fan who died of a heart attack on the way back from watching his team's 5-0 victory at Wembley.

John Goodall, from Fenton, had been determined not to miss Sunday's FA Cup semi-final.

The 79-year-old with his family, had been joining in with a sing-a-long on the minibus returning home following the "perfect day".

But after the group stopped at Hilton Park services on the M6, he suffered the heart attack.

John's grandson Matthew, who is a dentist, gave him CPR while an ambulance was on its way.

But he was unable to save him and John was pronounced dead at hospital.

Relatives today described John as a devoted family man.

John's 57-year-old daughter Angela Goodall, from Blurton, said: "He was so excited. But I don't think the excitement of the day contributed to his heart attack.

"He just went out on a high as he couldn't better that. He decided it was time to go.

"Dad was an amazing, caring person. Everyone loved him."

Former gas board worker John, who lived in Christchurch Street with his wife Mary, had undergone a triple heart by-pass a decade ago and had been suffering from health problems.

Just weeks ago, he had fallen over at a match and needed stitches, which he meant he was confined to a wheelchair for the clash against Bolton.

Son Ged, from Etruria, said: "My dad hadn't shut up for two weeks about going to Wembley. He mentioned it every day.

"He loved football. But it wasn't just about Stoke, it was a family thing.

" It was one of the few times apart from weddings when the whole family got together."

John had been joined on the minibus by his three sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The youngest was five-year-old grandson Isaac.

Ged, a 54-year-old hairdresser, said: "I was also wearing my late grandad's shoes, so there were five generations represented. I won't go to the match without my grandad."

John had supported the team for around 60 years, although he had only been regularly attending matches for a couple of decades.

Fifty-one year-old son David, from Nantwich, said: "We carried him up and down the stairs at Wembley like he was a king.

"He had a fantastic day and was over the moon at Stoke winning."

John's funeral has yet to be finalised.

Leave your tributes to John Goodall below