A TEENAGE footballer hailed as an ‘amazing lad, full of joy and laughter’ has lost his fight for life.

Luke Mackrell, 18, from Runcorn, died in Halton Haven Hospice on Wednesday - 11 days after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

The former St Chad’s pupil was a Runcorn Linnets Juniors footballer.

Friends and players have paid tribute.

Close friend Morgan Roberts posted: “I lost one of the most important people in my life, my friend, my hero and my brother.

“Luke was hands down the funniest, most genuine, amazing lad I have ever met and was my inspiration.

“He made me realise that life is too short to take anything for granted and to take every day as it comes. He went every day smiling and never let anything get him down.

“Anyone who knows Luke knows he never had a bad word to say about anyone and no one had a bad word to say about him.

“Life will never be the same without Luke, making us cry with laughter without fail every time we spoke to him.

“Luke made me who I am today, and made us, the lads who we are today. God only takes the best, and he has took the greatest in Luke.

“Thank you for the best eight years of my life, and eight years of pure laughter and joy.”

Luke joined the Linnets Juniors when he was 10 and played until he was 16.

The Linnets club said Luke was noted as a talented left-sided midfield player but played in other positions to help out the team, including goalkeeper many times.

Luke's manager Steve McKenna, junior section committee members, coaches and former team-mates described him as ‘an excellent all-round footballer with a very likeable, infectious and inspirational personality’.

The club's junior head secretary Ciaran Clotworthy said: 'We are all absolutely devastated at Luke's very unexpected passing and the loss of a lovely lad. No-one ever had a bad word to say about him.

“In fact Luke was known as the lad who would lift your spirits when you needed it.”

Luke continued his football career with Smiths SD and proved to be an important and influential team member - sharing in a league and cup double.

As a mark of respect a minute's applause will be held in memory of Luke at Runcorn Linnets' next first-team game at home to Ashton Athletic on Saturday, March 4 at The Millbank Linnets Stadium.

Teams held a minute’s silence at games this weekend and send their deepest condolences to Luke’s family.

Friend Liam Armstrong posted: “Luke was just full of joy and laughter no matter what the weather was like what day it was there was always a smile and one of his jokes or comments that you couldn't help but laugh at.

“He never had a bad thing to say about anyone. He just went about his life the way Luke did he was him and nobody could change him “I remember the times when we used to smash the PlayStation till early hours in the morning.

“My thoughts are with his family and his closest of all mates at such a hard time.”

“Rest in paradise Luke you will be missed by your friends and family.”

Luke’s funeral is at Our Lady's Catholic Church, Lapwing Grove, Palacefields, Runcorn, on Thursday, March 9 at 10am.