Wycombe Wanderers have paid tribute to a 17-year-old footballer who died after being ‘taken ill’ during a match last week.

Adam Ankers was playing for Wycombe’s Foundation Under-19s team and passed away in hospital on Monday. As well as an aspiring player, he was an avid supporter of the League One club.

Chairboys manager Matt Bloomfield said he was ‘deeply shocked’ to hear the tragic news and the club plans a tribute to the teenager at the home fixture with Oxford United on February 17.

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

Wycombe Wanderers have paid tribute to aspiring footballer Adam Ankers, 17, who died after being ‘taken ill’ playing for their Foundation Under-19 side last week

The League One club plan a tribute to the teenager at a forthcoming match at Adams Park

Chariboys coach Matt Bloomfield led the tributes, saying the club was ‘devastated’ 

Adam attended every home Wycombe match with his family as well as playing for the club

The club said Adam attended every home game at Adams Park with his father, brother and sister.

Bloomfield 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, chief executive of Wycombe Wanderers Foundation, said: ‘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.’