THE three sons of 67-year-old Chippenham Town FC fan Mike Opie, who collapsed and died of a heart attack at the team's home match with Welling on Monday night, have paid tribute to their "quiet mannered and caring" father.

Mr Opie, of Stonelea Close in Chippenham, collapsed around ten yards from the home dugout, 20 minutes before the end of the game.

Attempts were made by stewards and medical staff to resuscitate him after he stopped breathing.

A land ambulance was called and five minutes after the final whistle blew, an air ambulance landed on the pitch. But further attempts to revive Mr Opie failed and the news broke that he had died around 15 minutes later, just after 10pm.

Window salesman Pete King, also in the crowd on Monday night, told how he battled to save Mr Opie's life for about quarter of an hour before ambulance crews arrived. Mr King, 44, who is a former health and safety inspector, now works for DL Windows in Chippenham. He performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massage on Mr Opie until the emergency services arrived and tried for a further 45 minutes to save him.

"It is tragic. Mr Opie was unconscious and everyone tried their hardest to help him, but it wasn't meant to be," said Mr King. "I just did what anyone else with training would have done. I have the deepest sympathies for Mr Opie's family.

"I hear that he was a committed fan of the team and if there is anything I can offer as any consolation, it is that he was clearly doing something he loved when he died."

Mr Opie's son, Alan, 40, described his father as "a caring family man" and said he had just been to visit his newest granddaughter, Lucy, who was born just six weeks ago. "He was very proud of his family - especially his four grandchildren," he said.

Adding that his father had seemed apparently fit and healthy prior to his death, he said: "Dad loved walking and travelling and had been on many foreign trips with my mother - he had no health problems that we knew about."

Mr Opie's youngest son, Andrew, 36, said his father had been a committed supporter of Chippenham FC for many years. "Dad went to see every home game," he explained.

"He was born and bred in Cornwall and was very proud of his roots, but had followed Chippenham FC since moving to the town in 1965.

"He had seen the team through the bad times and the good and the whole family travelled with dad to see them play at Wembley in 2000 - all 17 of us. He had a wonderful time that day.

"We also arranged for dad to be one of the sponsors of the team for their match against Stockport, to celebrate his birthday, which he loved."

Mr Opie had worked at the MoD HQ in Copenacre for 40 years prior to his retirement. "He was a warm dad, everyone liked him," said his oldest son Paul, 42. Speaking after Monday night's game, Chippenham Town secretary Chris Blake said: "This has put life into perspective. We have had a good game of football, but to many it means nothing, because a supporter has died.

"(Mr Opie) had in his pocket his current season ticket and had bought a new one ready for next season. To collapse at a game of football and die is terrible. Announcements were made regarding the ambulances coming, but the players were really focused on the game. It wasn't until afterwards that they realised the seriousness of the situation."

Gareth Davies, centre back for Chippenham, said: "Football means nothing in these circumstances.

"I'd like to wish Mr Opie's family all the best and to let them know that I am very sorry to hear what has happened."

Mr Blake added that the club intends to pay tribute to Mr Opie at a later date. Mr Opie leaves his wife Maeve, 62, three sons, two daughters and four grandchildren.

The funeral will be held at St Mary's Church, Station Hill, Chippenham, on Tuesday at 2.30pm.