SANDBACH United have paid tribute to their goalkeeping coach whose passing has been described as a "massive loss".

The North West Counties side were rocked by the news of Andy Kimber's death this week and the management team and players will pay their respects with a round of applause before tomorrow's home friendly with Bootle.

Father-of-two Andy, 60, was a stalwart servant, who not only trained and prepared the club's senior keepers, but coached the junior and women's teams while taking on a range of duties around the club.

Sandbach officials said he was a "fantastic colleague, a wonderful coach and a dedicated volunteer".

"Andy did a fantastic job with the first team goalkeepers, but it was much more than that as he gave up his time to coach the juniors and girls," said manager Andy Hockenhull.

"We have got around 40 teams and he just got involved with them all - it was something he loved doing. We're a young club and when you get two or three like Andy it makes all the difference.

"He was there opening the doors, getting the kits ready for the teams, he was always there on match days. He was just a lovely, happy guy. It is a massive loss."

As a keeper, Andy was well-known on the grassroots circuit in mid and south Cheshire. He played for Goostrey, Market Tavern and Hays Chemicals in his youth.

He moved on to coaching work at Macclesfield Town and with Stoke City's youth team at the time the Potters were in the Premier League.

The UEFA A qualified goalkeeper coach also briefly managed Northwich Victoria when they were a Conference side.

Club officials at Sandbach will speak with Andy's partner, Janice, about paying a more fuller tribute in time to their colleague and friend.

"Andy was my friend as well. He was a big Manchester City fan and he could go back to the Colin Bell era. We had a lot of banter as I'm a United fan," added the Sandbach boss.

"We knew he was poorly, but the news was still a shock. We'll have applause before tomorrow's game - we want to do something properly to pay tribute, but we need to talk to Janice about that."

Sandbach's return to league action has been delayed by the North West Counties League's decision to suspend all fixtures until December 19 after the government's tier review.

NWCL clubs from Greater Manchester lobbied to pause for now because under tier three they are not permitted spectators.

In the meantime, Sandbach have arranged a couple of friendlies, including the visit of Bootle, when up to 150 supporters will be allowed in.

They currently lie in second place in NWCL First Division South after chalking up five wins from their seven games, but face a hectic schedule now despite the season being extended by a month.

But their manager vowed: "We hope to go right through now and get promoted and that would be for Andy. That will be just for him."