Tonbridge manager Steve McKimm has spoken out about the tragic death of Junior Dian on Tuesday night.

The 24-year-old trialist collapsed on the pitch at Whyteleafe's Church Road ground having come on as a half-time substitute for his first appearance in Angels colours.

McKimm said: "I made the changes at half-time and Junior was one of the players who came on. There were probably 15 minutes left in the game and he just went to ground.

"Melvin (Slight) and Bob, the Whyteleafe physio, got on as quickly as possible. Laurence Ball called them on because it didn’t look right and they worked on him tirelessly.

"Melvin saw it before the referee did. He just went down with his arms behind his head and there was nothing to break his fall. Melvin knew something was definitely wrong.

"We didn’t know how serious it was at first. Melvin and Bob kept working on him and I got the players off. We called the game off there and then and the players went back into the changing-room to get ready.

"There’s a balcony at Whyteleafe and the players were standing up there, watching what was as happening on the pitch but I didn’t want them watching so I sent them home."

Dian was taken to St George's Hospital in Tooting, accompanied by Tonbridge players Jerrome Sobers and James Folkes. His family joined them at the hospital but doctors couldn't save Dian's life.

McKimm said: "I told Jerrome to keep me informed and just after 1am I got a text to say Junior had passed away.

"I was like a baby. I couldn’t stop crying.

"Something like that, for a 24-year-old doing something he loves, it affects the family first and foremost but it affects other people as well.

"Nothing can prepare you for this and no words can describe it."

Dian, a former Dagenham & Redbridge youth player, had been hoping to prove himself to McKimm and earn a deal to play for Tonbridge in the Ryman League Premier Division this season.

McKimm said: "This year, because I knew the squad I was going with, I didn’t have loads of trialists. Jerrome gave me a call a couple of weeks ago saying he knew of someone and could they down down, so I said yes. He trained well and he played well yesterday.

"Junior was with us for a week-and-a-half. When I came here (last May), I made a statement saying that I was going to make this a family club. Whether you’re with us for a week-and-a-half or 10 years, you’re part of that family - and Junior was.

"This is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life, and with the players as well.

"I can only praise Melvin and Bob for the work they did. They’re very professional in what they do but they’ll be hurting."