SHOCKED friends paid tribute to a newly-married father who died of a suspected heart attack during a football match in Newport this weekend.

Despite frantic efforts to save 37-year-old Peter Collier after he collapsed at Longbridge Fields in Risca he was confirmed dead on arrival at the city's Royal Gwent Hospital.

The Newport and District Football League second team match, between Lliswerry and AC Pontymister, was called off when Mr Collier collapsed two minutes before half-time at 3.15pm on Saturday

Lliswerry player Mr Collier married his wife Vicky just two months ago at St Mellons Golf Club and had a nine-year-old son, Alex, from his first marriage.

Mrs Collier was yesterday being comforted by relatives at the couple's home in the Gaer, Newport.

Lliswerry Club secretary Haydn Nottley paid tribute to Mr Collier, who worked for furniture makers Bisley Office Equipment in Newport.

"It is a massive shock," he said. "He was just such a good bloke.

"Peter was one of the boys and had played for us since he was a teenager. He was the one person everybody got on well with and he was always at the centre of things."

He said Mr Collier, who he had known for 21 years, seemed very healthy.

"He was a bit of a speed demon when he was younger and would charge around the pitch," he said. "He was still very fit."

Club chairman Paul Whittington, 52, said Mr Collier was very happy with his life.

"He was at a good stage in his life. It was a fresh start for him and he had a lot to look forward to.

"He was just such a fabulous guy."

He said Mr Collier was in good spirits before the match.

"He was going around shaking everyone's hand and saying 'Happy New Year'. He was talking about our annual trip to Spain at the end of the season in May." Referee Paul Ryall, 38, saw Mr Collier collapse. "He was stood two feet away from me," he said. "Nobody was touching him and he suddenly fell forwards. It was like he had fainted but he didn't put his hands out to stop himself, they were by his sides." Mr Ryall abandoned the match when it became clear Mr Collier was seriously ill. He said: "Everybody did all they could. But there was no response. "Everyone was devastated. I have never before walked into a changing room and found it completely quiet after a match." AC Pontymister secretary Dave Randall is a trained first-aider and tried desperately to save Mr Collier by giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until the ambulance arrived. He said: "When I got to him he was lying in the goal mouth. It seemed to me he had already gone, but I started mouth-to-mouth while one of his team mates did the chest compressions. "We just did all we could. Everyone was trying to help. It is a complete tragedy." l Editorial: page 12