Funeral of Kent Football United goalkeeper Jordan Dawes from Swanley
19:03, 18 March 2019
updated: 19:31, 18 March 2019
The funeral of a young footballer who died after a battle with cancer took place today.
Jordan Dawes, from Swanley, passed away on Friday, February 22 after she was diagnosed with the disease following a stroke last year.
Today, friends and family of the 18-year-old gathered at Thamesview Crematorium, in Gravesend Road, Shorne, to pay tribute to the aspiring goalkeeper.
Scroll down for video and a picture gallery
One of the best goalkeepers in the world earlier paid tribute to Jordan, who leaves behind her mother Michelle, father Robert and brother Luke.
The Dawes family asked people attending the event to wear any football shirts they have, or something pink - e.g. ties, blouses, ribbons or dresses, as they want it "to be a bright day for our J."
Posting on her Facebook this morning, alongside a picture of Jordan smiling, Michelle wrote: "My beautiful girl. I carried you inside of me growing and nurturing you for nine months and we all had you for 18 wonderful years.
"We will never understand why you was so cruelly taken from us when you had so much life to live and dreams to fulfil, but you was.
"Now you're safely tucked inside of our shattered hearts forever. Today isn't a goodbye, it's a until we see you again, our beautiful angel. Love you always, from Mum, Dad, Luke and Mols."
The Dawes family have been inundated with messages of support since Jordan's passing, including from Manchester United star David De Gea, who sent the keeper the pair of gloves he wore in his 250th Premier League game, against Crystal Palace, as well as a shirt.
During her illness Jordan received messages of support from One Direction star Louis Tomlinson and Love Island winner Jack Fincham, who is also from Swanley.
She also met singer Olly Murs and was visited by EastEnders’ star Jacqueline Jossa.
Before her stroke, sports mad Jordan was studying football coaching at North Kent College.
She fell in love with the sport at the age of nine, where she started out at Titan Tigers for the boys’ team, before being selected for Gillingham when she was 16.
Her current club Kent Football United have retired the number one shirt in her memory and are changing the name of their girls development centre to The Jordan Dawes PDC.
