A fundraiser has been launched to raise money for the family of a much-loved football coach and community champion.

David Mingins is the coach for Gosforth AFC’s under-8 squad in west Cumbria.

A Cleator Moor man, he moved to Seascale and has since been a pillar of not only the sporting community there but the community overall, for children and parents.

The fundraiser has been launched because, sadly, David has an inoperable brain tumour, which is terminal.

He coaches the squad with his colleague, Chris Elliot, who set up the fundraiser on GoFundMe.

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On the fundraiser page, Chris wrote: “We set the team up for the boys to help bring them on with their football and to open up more opportunities for the Gosforth/Seascale community.

“Since the club started last year the boys have excelled in their football and really enjoyed learning new skills, meeting new friends and playing the game they love, this is all down to Dave for getting the sponsors we needed and setting the club up.

“After Christmas Dave found out that he had a brain tumour which was operated on, however, 5 per cent of the tumour had to be left due to the position of it and the possibility of further damage.

“Since then Dave’s tumour has grown and he now has a grade IV gliosarcoma brain tumour, which they have said is inoperable.

“Dave has his wife Louise and their two children at home Seth and Emily and we would like to raise some money for them all, to enable them to make the most of the time they have left together.”

Donna Timmington, a parent of a player, spoke highly of him too: “He’s just everything, and it’s so unfortunate.

“He got sponsors in for the club and put his heart and soul into it.

“He’s so approachable for everyone and is always showing the children new techniques.

“The club is devastated.”

She has been passionate about raising as much for the family as possible and has reached out to Carlisle United, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea for support.

She added: “He’s part of the football family, to go from where the children were where they. didn’t know a lot about football to where they are now, he’s delivered.”

The fundraiser is only a few days old and has already raised well over £3,000 at the time of reporting.

To donate, click here.

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