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Footballer Jordan Dawes' family pays tribute to her describing her as an 'amazing, charitable person'

10:15, 26 February 2019

updated: 10:22, 26 February 2019

The family of a well-loved footballer who died after a battle with cancer have paid tribute to her describing her as an "amazing person".

Kent Football United goalkeeper Jordan Dawes from Swanley passed away on Friday.

The 18-year-old's team announced her death on Twitter, describing her as a "talented, polite, hard-working woman".

VIDEO: Jordan's family pay tribute to her on kmtv

Her mum, Michelle Gurr Dawes previously paid tribute to her on Facebook with a heartfelt message to say she and her family are "beyond heartbroken" and her post received more than 1,000 likes and 600 comments.

Mrs Dawes added: "Today our beautiful total amazeballs warrior daughter Jordan Dawes went to sleep for the last time.

"We are heartbroken beyond heartbroken and I don't know how we are ever going to continue without our beautiful girl she had soo much life to live.

"Never stop loving and hugging your beautiful children as it's a cruel bloody world out there!"

Michelle Gunn Dawes, Jordan's mum posted this picture of her on Facebook with a loving tribute
Michelle Gunn Dawes, Jordan's mum posted this picture of her on Facebook with a loving tribute

Now her cousin, Amber Matthews appeared on kmtv to pay tribute to Jordan last night and also spoke about how her family have been coping since she passed away.

She said: "It was massive shock although we knew it was coming I think you can't prepare yourself for something like that.

"We have been coping by seeing each other every day since it happened and we are just trying to live through her memories and laugh at the memories and although it is hard and there are times that we break down at times it is important to laugh at memories that is what made her and our family so strong together.

"There is so just so much to remember about her, she was just amazing, an amazing person and so, so charitable.

"She actually done fundraising for ellenor hospice even before she got diagnosed and that's the hospice which helped her out during the bad times.

"And there are so many memories we have of her like when we were kids we used to see each other every single weekend.

"Those are the memories which are going to get us through this hard time and remember how she was here and smiling, that's how we want to remember her by."

Jordan Dawes died on Friday after a battle with cancer
Jordan Dawes died on Friday after a battle with cancer

Miss Matthews also said the thousands of tributes and messages, including by celebrities left for Jordan before and after her death have brought comfort to her family.

She added: "They have meant everything, especially Louis Tomlinson and David de Gea sent her videos and you would have loved to have seen her face as it would be smiling so much she would light up the room.

"And it meant so much to us, a small normal family like us can get so much support from everyone about just a local girl who had dreams to meet these people and they finally supported her even though it was not the best situation, it got her through it and kept her smiling."

Her football coach Sam Macneil, from Kent Football United, which is based in Dartford also paid tribute to her.

He said: "Jordan will always be in our hearts."

Jordan Dawes used to play for Kent Football United
Jordan Dawes used to play for Kent Football United

Jordan was diagnosed with liver cancer after suffering a stroke last year.

The North Kent College student also played for the Charlton Athletic FC's youth team until she was 16.

In November one of her coaches took to social media to urge people to help, which prompted Manchester United's Spanish stopper David De Gea to donate some gifts.

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