Tributes have poured in for an "amazing" and "kind" footballer with a real "lust for life" who has passed away after battling a rare genetic disease.

Dartford FC women's team reserve player Leyla Latif died suddenly of a suspected heart attack aged just 36 last week.

The young footballer had played for the Princes Park-based outfit since she was 14, back when the club fielded "London Girls" sides in Eltham.

But recent appearances had been limited owing to her diagnosis with tuberous sclerosis, a rare genetic condition which causes mainly non-cancerous benign tumours to develop in different parts of the body.

During the pandemic, it had spread to her kidneys and Leyla was forced to shield as she started dialysis treatment and urgently sought a transplant to save her life.

But sadly a donor match could not be found and last Tuesday she passed away after suffering a heart attack, her family said.

Sister Dilek, 40, paid tribute to her football-mad younger sibling who she described as having a real "lust for life".

She said: "Leyla was amazing, she was given seven years to live and fought for everything. She was the fittest and she lived life to the fullest.

"I think the reason she lived so long was because she had a lust for life, travelling to new countries and loved learning."

Leyla was born and grew up in Sidcup as the middle child in a Turkish household with dad Yusuf, mum Hanim and younger sister Saylan, 19.

Dilek described her as the "cheeky" one growing up, adding "she had a little glint in her eye and was always the naughty one out of the three of us".

She also had a determined personality and did not let having learning difficulties hold her back in any way.

"If there was an obstacle she would find a way," Dilek added.

Later in life she developed into a "really kind and considerate" young woman and was someone her sisters could turn to.

"She was the sister we would go to for comfort and calm," Dilek said. "Just full of empathy and also good with animals ­– we used to called her Dr Dolittle."

Leyla was also well thought of and adored by her team mates at Dartford FC's women side.

Despite not being able to play during her treatment, she would still go down and support. The club awarded that support with a medal at the end of the season.

Following her death, the club shared a tribute to her "amazing character" online, describing her as "an angel".

"We are completely and utterly in shock and heartbroken," they said.

"Leyla has been part of us from our days at London Girls all the way through to Dartford.

"Leyla was always a big support to the first team and an even bigger support to the reserves. Heaven has gained an angel, sleep tight."

The club added: "Leyla was so proud of all of our achievements and we were truly supportive of her challenges as she overcame many health issues to enable her to play football and train.

"The sidelines will not be the same without Leyla’s words of encouragement and her caring and thoughtful ways.

"Leyla will always be in our thoughts and hearts. As a club we send our deepest condolences to her family."

Tributes also poured in from opposition clubs, match officials and former team mates who remembered Leyla.

Michaela Hill wrote: "Shocked and gutted to hear of Leyla’s passing. She was the kindest soul and supported anyone and everyone no matter what.

"It was a pleasure to play alongside her during my second stint at Dartford and she will most definitely be missed."

Another added: "Devastated is an understatement. Leyla was an amazing character who wanted the best for everyone, she had the purest intentions."

But her death has also left many unanswered questions for her family, who struggled to get ready access to treatment and help throughout the pandemic.

"The last three months she started getting really ill with her stomach and we kept going to A&E," explained Dilek.

"It has left us feeling hopeless because we spent all this time going back and forth from doctors but nobody knew what was going on."

Her older sister added: "We have had to fight all the way the last three months.

"She has slipped through our fingers and I feel like there could have been more done and somewhere along the lines something has been missed."