Glowing tributes have been paid to a gentle and caring Bradford PE teacher who has died of a stroke.

Michael Nealon, 62, taught pupils for ten years at Springwood Community Primary School in Manningham. A popular colleague and mentor, fellow teachers said he was a “true gentleman” who became a well-respected figure in the community.

The school has been left shocked at the news of Mr Nealon’s death on Tuesday following a short illness.

In a statement released by the school, head teacher Fran Warden and her colleagues said: “We are all mourning the passing of our dear friend, colleague and teacher, Michael Nealon. He will be sadly missed and can never be replaced. His loss has come as a great shock to us all.

“He was a true gentleman who would go out of his way to help anyone and always brought out the best in his pupils and colleagues. He was an excellent role model for us all and we shall all carry into the future some of the lessons that we learnt from being around him.

“Our thoughts are with his family at this time.”

Mr Nealon, a divorcee, lived in Halifax and leaves behind a daughter, Adele.

A Liverpool fan, he was passionate about football and under his tutelage Springwood’s football team filled three trophy cabinets.

The school statement continued: “Colleagues past and present will remember him as a person who they could go to for advice and he was always there to listen and to help.

“He had a style of working which can not be taught via text book teaching. His name was the first to be asked about when pupils returned on visits to school years later.

“Even after pupils had left, he would keep a check on their progress in secondary schools, in higher education and beyond.

“Heaven has got itself the best primary school football manager. We are genuinely at a loss without him.”

Mr Nealon maintained close links with Bradford City FC and Ian Ormondroyd, the club’s football in the community officer, said he was devastated by the loss of a “top man”.

He said: “He was so keen and willing to help the children progress and on a few occasions when he thought one or two were good enough he would be on the phone trying to get them into the club’s centre of excellence.”

Mr Nealon’s funeral will be held at St Malachy’s Roman Catholic Church in Ovenden, Halifax, on Tuesday.

Mourners are requested not to send flowers but there will be a collection at the service for Save the Children.

Springwood will be closed on Tuesday as a mark of respect.