Hartlepool United supporters to pay tribute to lifelong Pools fan and Hartlepool cricketer Danny Shurmer in 43rd minute of play-off final against Torquay United

Popular Danny passed away after collapsing at home. He was 43.

Danny – a huge Pools fan who had a ticket for the final at Bristol City’s Ashton Gate - joined Hartlepool Cricket Club as a junior member aged 10 and went on to represent both first and second teams.

Tributes have been flooding in over the past 24-hours and Pools fans have announced they are to mark their own tribute.

With 3,100 supporters making the journey for the final it is set to be an emotional tribute prior to the half-time break.

On Twitter, the North West Corner fan account tweeted: "Today we lost a massive Poolie, Danny Shurmer.

“Danny was travelling down to Bristol to watch HUFC this weekend.

“To pay our respects we would like everyone at Ashton Gate to join us in a minutes applause on the 43 minute.

“We know Danny will be watching down on the mighty pools.”

Club chairman Alan Jackson said on Thursday that Danny had been “a fabulous cricketer, who captained the second team many times and was, in his younger days, a very good first team player”.

"He really was a top notch lad that all the players respected,” said Alan.

"He knew his cricket inside and out and he had a wonderful, wonderful attitude towards his players.”

Danny had been looking forward to watching Pools take on Torquay United in this weekend’s National League play-off final at Bristol City’s Ashton Gate Stadium for the chance to return to the Football League.

"Danny was an absolutely fanatical fan of the team and he was going to drive us down to Bristol on Saturday, that’s how fanatical he was.” added Alan.

“We have booked a hotel and we were going to stay over, then go to the game on Sunday.

"He was really looking forward to it.”

Second team captain Peter Rhoden said his thoughts were with Danny’s family and he added: "I have played in cricket teams with Danny since I was a kid. He was a great player on the pitch, but an even greater bloke off it. He absolutely adored HCC.”

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