Wycombe Wanderers pays tribute to Adam Ankers after death

Adam Ankers died in hospital after becoming ill during a football match

A football club will be paying tribute to a teenage player who died after he was "taken ill" during a match.

Adam Ankers, 17, was playing for Wycombe Wanderers Foundation's under-19s team when he became unwell.

Manager of the League One side, Matt Bloomfield, said he was "deeply shocked" to hear Mr Ankers died in hospital on Monday.

The club said it would host tributes to the youngster during its match against Oxford United on Saturday.

Adam Ankers was an avid supporter of the Chairboys and held a season ticket at Adams Park

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Ankers' dad, Alistair, said his son's death was "devastating".

"Yesterday we lost my son Adam, who passed away after playing football, the sport he loved," he said.

"We love him so much and the loss is devastating. He will always be with us and never forgotten."

'Extremely saddened'

Mr Ankers was an aspiring footballer and avid supporter of the Chairboys, having attended every home game on the terraces with his father, brother and sister, the club said.

It added that his team mates, fellow Henley College students, friends and family had been invited to Saturday's home fixture for the tributes.

Manager Matt Bloomfield said: "I was deeply shocked to hear the news that Adam was taken ill last week while playing the game he loves, and he has been in our thoughts since as we hoped and prayed for his recovery.

"We are all extremely saddened to learn that he wasn't able to pull through and our deepest condolences are with his friends, team-mates and family at this awful time."

Mark Gaitskell, chief executive of Wycombe Wanderers Foundation, added the side would "create a legacy" in Mr Ankers' name.