TRIBUTES have been flooding in for a "one-of-a-kind" youth football coach after he died suddenly.

Danny Creasey, who coached with Crossgates Primrose Youth FC before becoming the "driving force" behind the creation of North Queensferry Football Club in 2017, died earlier this month aged just 45.

A well-known and well-liked figure in grassroots football circles, news of his death has triggered an outpouring of sympathy, with a former coaching colleague at Primrose describing him as a "happy, bubbly guy" who was "easy-liked".

Danny, who lived in Dunfermline, was born on the Isle of Sheppey, in Kent, and moved north with his family in 1983 after his dad, Ian, transferred to work at Rosyth Dockyard.

A pupil at Canmore Primary and Dunfermline High, he was a keen rugby player at school, and would play for the 1145 (Dunfermline) Squadron Air Cadets, as well as trialling for Scotland's air training corps.

Danny, who with his sister was a member of the Young Pars, and had a season ticket for Dunfermline Athletic with his dad during the 1980s, also played cricket at school but would also go with Ian to watch as he coached football teams on Saturday mornings.

He went on to become a coach in his own right and, having begun at Crossgates, starting a 2006 age group team that included his son, Billy, that played in Fife Soccer 7s at Pitreavie, Danny worked with a group of parents from North Queensferry to set up a club there four years ago.

North Queensferry FC's chairman, Roddy Dalzie, paid tribute by commenting: "There were lots of other parents contributing but if we all banded together, we could probably have contributed as much as Danny did single-handedly. His energy was just incredible.

"It was initially just a club with one team and Danny was instrumental in making that happen. Back then, Danny's dad, Ian, was a coach development officer, Danny was the head coach, and the club really fairly quickly grew to about 100 players or so in different teams and different age groups.

"I was, and still am, the chairman at the club but Danny was really the driving force behind all of that. He was really very passionate about the whole thing and we all struggled to keep up with him; he was infamous for sending us messages at all hours of the night and so on!

"It's a big commitment but Danny was totally dedicated to it. He sponsored one of the teams, so financially he made a big contribution that way, time-wise and just with his knowledge and experience.

"He was very much a can-do person. One of the other things that stood out about Danny was that he was just one of those people that liked to help other folk. He'd be driving here, there and everywhere to pick up kids and make sure they could all get to training.

"He really was one of a kind. People often say that when someone dies, but Danny was.

"He was an absolute powerhouse when it came to getting things done."

Peter Westbrook, chair of Crossgates Primrose Youth FC, said: "He was a happy, bubbly guy and really good with the kids. He made sure the kids enjoyed their football and that was the most important thing to him.

"That's what Scottish football needs in my opinion; these guys who dedicate their time, a helluva a lot of their time, and Danny did that.

"He was an easy-liked guy. He had his opinions, like everybody, and when he thought things weren't right he would let us know.

"He was very straightforward and that's what I liked about him."

Danny, who had an IT business and had a love of music and going to gigs, also helped organise a fundraising tournament in 2018 at Pitreavie for Edinburgh's Sick Kids Hospital in memory of Kennoway Juniors player Owen Nisbet, who had died after a short battle with cancer.

Andi Campbell, chair of the Fife Soccer Sevens Development Association, added: "Danny was one of these pure football guys; he loved the football.

"You always had a laugh with Danny. Everybody used to talk about him, talk to him, and Danny always stopped to talk to everybody. He always liked to have a blether about everything.

"His heart was in the right place. He certainly played his part within the Soccer 7s. We had a lot of time for Danny."

Among those who added tributes online were Bayside FC, who said that "Danny was a great guy who gave so much for his players and for grassroots football in Fife", and Inverkeithing United FC, who wrote poignantly, "see you behind the goals coach".

Danny is survived by his parents, Ian and Lyn, and children, Billy and Abby.

His funeral service took place on Friday.

If anyone wishes to make a charitable donation in Danny's name, the family have suggested the British Heart Foundation, who said that they wished to thank the football community for their support, and everyone for their kind thoughts, cards and flowers.