MATT Salmon, a young sports physiotherapist who died last week just days after retiring from his position with the Mansfield Town Football Club academy, grew up in Petersfield and played cricket for the town club.

Matt, who was just 25, worked for the League Two club for more than three years, despite having been diagnosed with lung cancer as long ago as 2010.

He only announced his retirement on Wednesday last week following a consultation with doctors and, the same day, said he had loved every moment of the job.

“It has been an incredibly difficult decision to resign from my dream job at the age of 25, but unfortunately I have reached a stage where I am not able to give our players the level of care they deserve,” he said.

He thanked his colleagues at Mansfield for their support during his illness.

“The fact that people who achieved so much in the game offer their time and support shows what sort of club Mansfield Town is and mirrors the principles that the town was built on.

“I will finish by wishing the club, players, staff and fans all the best for next season and I look forward to the club playing League One football, which everyone at the club deserves.”

Less than two days later, in the early hours of Friday, Matt Salmon died peacefully surrounded by his wife, Emily, family and friends.

The Salmon family were deeply involved with Petersfield Cricket Club when Matt was growing up. His father, Andy, was the colts co-ordinator and head coach, while his mother, Dee, served as secretary and health and safety officer. Both are still members and Dee runs the 200 Club.

Matt played his cricket at The Heath until ill-health prevented it. He attended sixth form at Peter Simmonds College in Winchester and, between treatments, went on to get a first in physiotherapy at Nottingham.

Andy and Matt also assisted with indoor cricket coaching in Dorset and both went to Guernsey with the county. Matt was Don Crawford’s assistant coach for the Dorset U/11 sides for nearly four years before he took up the Mansfield job. He also helped ESCA at the U/11 softball and hardball finals on a number of occasions.

Mansfield Town chairman/owner John Radford and manager Steve Evans both paid tribute to their young academy coach.

“We are terribly sad to receive this news – Matt was a true credit to himself and his family,” said John Radford. “He will be remembered by everyone at Mansfield Town for his enthusiasm and the second-to-none quality of care in the treatment and rehabilitation of players. But above all that, he was a thoroughly decent person and we will miss him. We offer our sincere condolences to Matt’s family.”

Steve Evans said: “It would be fair to say that this is a real sad day for everyone connected with Mansfield Town. As soon as I heard the news this afternoon, it dampened by heart and my thoughts immediately go to Matt’s family. They have lost a wonderful husband, son and brother and we, his football family, have not only lost an outstanding professional, but a true friend.”

Matt Salmon joined the Nottinghamshire club in 2014, working as academy physio alongside head physio Chris Bowman. When the latter left to join Bolton, Matt stepped up to become first-team physio for eight weeks. He then returned to his initial position while working with the first-team squad for the rest of the 2014/15 season.

Since the academy’s move to Brooksby Melton College in Leicestershire, in the summer of 2015, Matt has led the youth section’s medical department.

Academy manager John Dempster said: “Matt has been taken from his family and friends far too soon, but the foundations he has laid at the academy will live on for years to come, along with the wonderful memories we have of him.”