BRADFORD (Park Avenue) midfielder Nicky Clee has paid tribute to former team-mate Jordan Sinnott, describing him as a 'really likeable guy'.

Bradford-born footballer Sinnott died last Saturday in hospital after being assaulted in Retford Market Place, with two men having since been charged for manslaughter.

Clee played alongside Sinnott at Altrincham for a number of years and grew quite close to the young player, mentoring him even when the pair were no longer team-mates.

The 36-year-old had been playing for Avenue against Alty last Saturday, coming off at half-time through illness, when news filtered through about Sinnott.

Clee spoke on how his friendship formed with Sinnott - whose father Lee played for Bradford City and managed Park Avenue - and how it was tough to take when he found out about the tragedy.

He said: "I first came into contact with him when he was 18, he came on-loan to Alty (Altrincham) from Huddersfield. Even then, he was just a good lad to be around.

"He was a really nice guy and a likeable character.

"I spoke to (Avenue goalkeeper) Tom Nicholson before the game and we had a chat about it. He is good mates with Jordan, he played with him at Halifax and Alfreton.

"He told me what had happened before the game.

"I was ill last week so I came off at half-time and had a look at my phone where it was all reported that he had already died.

"When the game is going on and I have just heard this, it was difficult to hear.

"He had an infectious personality, you just wanted to be around him.

"Although I only played with him for three years, I have spoke to him constantly for the last eight or nine years, it is just devastating."

Speaking on Sinnott's career, which also included spells at Bury, Halifax Town, Chesterfield and Alfreton, Clee was not only complimentary about his footballing ability but gave high praise for what he was like as a person both on and off the field.

He added: "That team in the first year (for Altrincham), we survived after being tipped to go down when Jordan first came.

"We had a good team and camaraderie, the lads were really good, it was a settled side and he just fitted in straight away.

"He was a funny guy so everyone got on with him straight away.

"That was the best time in his career when he was at Halifax, he played off Tom Denton quite well and scored goals, then got that move to Chesterfield.

"If you ask anyone who has come in contact with him, no one will have a bad word to say about him. He was a proper nice guy."

The footballing world has come together over the past week. Clubs have been sending shirts with 'Sinnott 25' on the back to raise money for Sports Relief.

There is also set to be tributes up and down the country in this weekend's fixtures. Clee wants Avenue to go out there against Southport and gain a win in memory of his friend.

He said: "You see this sort of thing when there is bad news, you always look to sport to pull you through.

"Because of his footballing background, the amount of people who knew him will be huge.

"Even if you have played against him for like half an hour you can't not like him because of what he is like on the pitch. He was always laughing and smiling.

"The community and sporting world have come together, it should give the family a bit of relief that everyone is behind them.

"I think they are doing a tribute to Jordan before the game so hopefully we can get three points for him."