Wycombe Wanderers footballer, 17, dies after falling ill while playing match

Wycombe Wanderers are mourning the loss of 17-year-old footballer Adam Ankers, who sadly died after falling ill while playing a match for the club. Adam, a dedicated fan and season ticket holder as well as a player for Wycombe's Under-19s foundation team, became unwell during a game last week and later passed away in hospital.

His dad, Alastair, shared the heartbreaking news on social media on Tuesday. He wrote: "Yesterday we lost my son Adam, who passed away after playing football, the sport he loved.

"We love him so much and the loss is devastating. He will always be with us and never forgotten."

Wycombe's first-team manager, Matt Bloomfield, expressed his shock and sadness. He said: "I was deeply shocked to hear the news that Adam was taken ill last week while playing the game he loves, and he has been in our thoughts since as we hoped and prayed for his recovery.

"We are all extremely saddened to learn that he wasn't able to pull through and our deepest condolences are with his friends, team-mates and family at this awful time."

Mark Gaitskell from the Wycombe Wanderers Foundation also said of the loss: "This has been an extremely distressing time for everyone involved with the Foundation as we mourn the tragic death of a talented, popular and much-loved young man.

"The news that he had passed away on Monday has hit everybody hard and we are collecting our thoughts about how, in due course, we can best pay tribute to Adam and create a legacy in his name.

"For now, we send our love, warmth and deepest condolences to his family and friends, and offer the full support of everyone at Wycombe Wanderers with anything we can do to be of help, or comfort at this incredibly difficult time."

Wycombe are planning to pay tribute to Adam when they meet League One opponents Oxford United in their next home game at Adams Park on February 17.