Roy Hodgson tribute as Baggies mourn Blake Melbourne
West Bromwich Albion were today mourning one of their potential young stars who has died from cancer aged just 14.
West Bromwich Albion were today mourning one of their potential young stars who has died from cancer aged just 14.
Baggies head coach Roy Hodgson led the tributes to academy defender Blake Melbourne after first-team players wore black armbands to remember the teenager, who died in hospital on Saturday.
Friends of Blake, who was from Shirley in Birmingham, posted a tribute video on YouTube yesterday while fans conducted a minute's applause before yesterday's 1-0 Premier League victory at Norwich.
Blake's younger brothers Max, aged 12, and nine-year-old Jamie are also signed to the Albion academy.
Roy Hodgson said: "It's really, really sad news. His family are very close to the club and his brothers also play for the club. We've followed his fight against this cancer, we've seen how brave and strong he's been, so when we heard he had lost his battle, it was a very sad moment.
"I thought it was very, very dignified what both sets of fans did yesterday and I thank them for that because in football you can't take that for granted anymore."