Jordan Sinnott: Brother pays tribute to 'best person I ever knew' after footballer's shock death

Jordan Sinnott has been described as 'the best person'
Getty Images
Ellena Cruse28 January 2020
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The brother of Jordan Sinnott has described the footballer as “the best person”.

Sinnott, who played for Matlock Town on loan from Alfreton Town, died on Saturday after being assaulted

He was found unconscious with a suspected fractured skull following a disturbance in Retford, Nottinghamshire.

A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder while another 21-year-old man and a 27-year-old man have already been arrested in connection with the incidents and remain in police custody.

His brother Tom has helped to honour his memory with the donation of football shirts.

Police cordoned off the scene in Retford, Nottinghamshire, where Mr Sinnott was assaulted
PA

Clubs from all over England have joined in with the campaign, donated shirts featuring Sinnott’s name and the number 25, which will be on display at his funeral before they are donated to Sports Relief.

Tom told Radio 1 Newsbeat: “He loved football so much.

“I thought to myself and said to my mum and Kelly for his funeral I want the teams he played for hung up at the funeral because we want to remember everything good about him. Then from that the idea kind of snowballed.

“Kelly had a great idea to start a WhatsApp group with all of Jord’s mates in the community and they all pulled together.

Tributes have been left to the footballer outside Alfreton Town Football Club from where he was on loan
PA

“Within an hour the lads said they had secured all Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two and Scottish teams and non-league.

“It is overwhelming and absolutely brilliant. We then said after the funeral we want them to all go to Sports Relief as a donation in Jord’s name so it can go to other children around the world.”

Sinnott is the son of former manager and ex-Bradford and Huddersfield player Lee Sinnott and started his career with the Terriers.

He died in hospital after suffering a suspected fractured skull
Jez Tighe/PA Wire

He went on to play for Altrincham, Halifax Town and Chesterfield before signing for Alfreton Town and later spending a period on loan with Matlock Town.

“There are not enough words to describe him really,” his brother Tom added.

“Out of everyone, he was the best person I ever knew. The funny thing with me and Jord is as brothers you would expect us to fight all the time, but we never had a fight, never raised voices to each other.

Tributes were left to Sinnott near the scene
PA

“I don’t think I ever heard him shout unless it was on the football pitch. There was so much love for the kid and his birthday is Valentine’s Day and that is quite apt really.”

After Sinnott’s funeral, the shirts with his name and the number 25 on will be donated to Sports Relief with the aim to allow children around the world to be able to own a football shirt.

Tom said: “Words can’t even describe it. It just means the world to me to know Jord, even after he passed, is still bringing joy to people even if he didn’t know them. It really does mean the world.”

A police office leaving tributes outside the ground of Matlock Town Football Club
PA Wire/PA Images

Nottinghamshire Police detective inspector Justine Wilson, who is leading the investigation, has appealed to local people for information.

She said: “Retford is a fantastic town with a close-knit community, and I would like to appeal directly to that community to come forward. Jordan’s family deserves answers, so please come and talk to us.

“We are making progress in the investigation, but we have unanswered questions. I know there are people out there who saw what happened and can answer those questions for us, so I would like to appeal to you directly – please do the right thing, not just for us but for Jordan’s family.

“Anyone who has any information can call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

“We have also opened an online portal which the public can use to give us information. This can be done anonymously and is not traceable by the police.”

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