'With lots of love you will always be with us': Father of Jlloyd Samuel pays heartfelt tribute to his footballer son, 37, who died in fireball crash after dropping his children off at school
- Jlloyd Samuel has died at the age of 37 following a car crash near his home
- Samuel had just dropped children off at school when he was involved in collision
- His death was announced by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association
- Samuel was still playing football as the player-manager of local Egerton FC
Devastated family members of former Premier League footballer Jlloyd Samuel have paid emotional tribute following his horror school run crash today.
Emergency services rushed to the scene on a country lane in High Legh, Cheshire, thing morning, after Samuel's Range Rover collided with a van.
Tragically, nothing could be done to save the former Trinidad and Tobago international, 37, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Bereft relatives were seen at the scene of the crash this evening, leaving floral tributes and notes for the defender.
One said: 'To Jlloyd, with lots of love you will all ways be with us. God blessings - stay strong. Dad.'
Another read: 'My brother Jlloyd. Gone too soon. RIHP. Rest in heavenly peace. Darius. Love always.'
Images of the immediate aftermath have emerged after the football ace was killed near his Cheshire home
Former footballer Jlloyd Samuel - pictured with his interior designer wife Emma Pritchard - has died in a car crash in Cheshire
Samuel, who has three children, had just dropped some of the youngsters off at school
Police remained at the scene of the crash in High Legh near Warrington this afternoon
Ex-Aston Villa, Bolton and Cardiff defender Samuel lived with his wife Emma and three children, Javarne, Lakyle and Amara, not far from the crash scene, in nearby Lymm.
Emma, 38, runs her own interior decoration business for baby and children's rooms called Samuel & Owen - a venture she began in 2013, while Samuel was playing for a team in Iran.
Figures from around the game paid tribute to Samuel today, with Manchester United's Ashley Young remembering how Samuel had 'taken him under his wing' when he started out at Aston Villa.
TV presenter Jake Humphrey tweeted: 'How terribly sad to hear that Jlloyd Samuel has been killed in a car crash after dropping his children off at school. Those poor, poor children. Thoughts with them, his wife Emma, and all his family.'
The driver of the other vehicle, a 54-year-old man, suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.
A final tweet from Samuel's official Twitter account showed how the former left back was looking to the future with his family.
He wrote: 'Coming soon to Dubai, my wife brand of luxury for baby & child #soproud #wife #dreams #children samuelandowen.'
Tributes to Samuel outside Villa Park in Birmingham prior to Aston Villa's semi-final kickoff against Middlesbrough
Fans laid flowers and tributes to the defender, who spent nine years as Aston Villa
Samuel had been building a life for him and his family since leaving the professional game
A spokesperson for Cheshire Police said: 'Emergency services remain at the scene of a serious collision involving a van and a car in High Legh.
'At around 7.55am police were called following reports of a collision involving a van and a Range Rover near to Costcutter on West Lane. Sadly the driver of the car, Jlloyd Samuel, 37, from Lymm, died at the scene.
'His next of kin have been informed and are currently being supported by specially trained officers.
'The driver of the van, a 54-year-old man, sustained serious injuries and has been taken to hospital for treatment.
'Road closures remain in place at either end of West Lane, near to the junctions of the A56 and the A50. Motorists are advised to avoid the area.'
The ground appeared burned at the spot where Samuel's Range Rover collided with a van
Police are investigating and closed off the usually-busy road this afternoon
Police said they have informed Samuel's family, who are being supported by trained officers
'Rest in peace, Jlloyd. Our deepest condolences are with his family and friends at this difficult time.'
Samuel finished playing top-level football in England back in 2011, moving to Iran, but returned to play non-League in Cheshire as recently as this season.
He and fellow former professional Nathan Ellington were player-managers at Egerton FC in the 12th tier of English football.
The former Premier League star discussed recently his future plans having stopped playing football at the highest level.
In an interview discussing his coaching role at Egerton FC, Samuel described the 'No Man's Land' of his post-football playing career and how was adapting to a new life.
'If you check a lot of the stats, a lot of footballers when they finish - what do they do?
'Some players take a year or two to find their feet again, some go directly into management but they say play as long as you can. Because when you stop you do become a No Man's Land.
'And somewhere like this [Egerton FC] it's somewhere where you can wind down your career but still play and get fit.'
Samuel (top row, third from left) played for the famed Senrab alongside John Terry as a child
Samuel played 228 times in the Premier League for Bolton (pictured) and Aston Villa
Samuel spent over a decade in the top flight but recently was managing non-League Egerton
Fellow players and former clubs pay tribute to 'great inspiration' who took young players under his wing
Tributes have poured in from around football following the death of Jlloyd Samuel.
A statement from his current club, Egerton, said 'Everyone at Egerton FC is extremely shocked and saddened to learn of the death of our first team player/manager Jlloyd Samuel earlier today aged just 37.
'Jlloyd was a great inspiration around the club and our first team this season and as a mark of respect, all club games this week have been cancelled.
'The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Emma, his family & friends at this difficult time.'
Aston Villa, who team are playing in the Championship playoffs this evening, tweeted: 'We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of our former player Jlloyd Samuel at the age of just 37 in a car accident.
'Our players will wear black armbands as a mark of respect tonight and our thoughts are with his friends and family at this very difficult time.'
The club where Samuel started out, Senrab, tweeted: 'Thoughts go out to the family of Jlloyd Samuel, killed today in a car crash. Another Senrab FC boy taken far to early.'
Cardiff also paid tribute to Samuel by tweeting: 'We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former £CardiffCity defender, Jlloyd Samuel. Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this incredibly difficult time.'
Bolton Wanderers tweeted: 'Everybody associated with Bolton Wanderers Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former defender, Jlloyd Samuel. Rest in peace, Jlloyd. Our deepest condolences are with his family and friends at this difficult time.'
A statement by Trinidad and Tobago's Football Association read: 'The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association and his former national team-mates at this time extends deepest condolences to his family members both in the UK and here in Trinidad and Tobago.'
England's official twitter account posted: 'We're saddened by the news of Jlloyd Samuel 's death, aged just 37. Jlloyd played for the Three Lions at U18, U20 and U21 levels, and was called up to the senior squad in 2004. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and all who knew him.'
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