25-03-2025
Tributes to Darlington football coach and dad who died a year after their mother
A Darlington youth football club has paid tribute to a Darlington dad and a team coach who suddenly died aged 38 - leaving behind his two sons less than a year after the death of their mum.
Hurworth Albion FC is hosting the match to fundraise in memory of their under-10s coach Michael Johnson.
Michael and Carrie have left behind two children- Jack and Charlie.
Michael Johnson with sons Charlie, 12, and Jack, 13 (Image: CONTRIBUTOR) The club has now set up a GoFundMe to run alongside the plans for the match to help raise funds for the two boys.
Neil Linfoot, manager of the other under 10s team at Hurworth said: "We as a club have all rallied around the boys and want to make this time a little easier for them.
"We don't want them to have to worry about the future or anything.
"Michael was just great. He was so happy-go-lucky and everyone at the club just loved him."
Michael Johnson with his under 10s football team (Image: CONTRIBUTOR) Neil continued: "He worked so hard out of the goodness of his heart and from his love of the club and would do anything for those children.
"We will all dearly miss him. We will put all our efforts into raising funds to help the two lads find some sense of normality as they move forward.
"While nothing can ease the pain of this loss, we hope to show them just how much love and support surrounds them."
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Michael is being remembered as a 'selfless' dad (Image: CONTRIBUTOR) The friendly match is set to be held on Sunday, April 13 between the two under 10s teams at the Hurworth Albion FC club- one of which was managed by Michael and the other by Neil.
The GoFundMe has already raised over six thousand pounds for the boys with more expected in the coming weeks after the charity match.
Youth football clubs from across the region have been doing their own fundraisers with many donating hundreds of pounds to the page.
