HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to a young sports physiotherapist who grew up in Petersfield and “inspired young people to achieve their potential.”

Matt Salmon was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2010 and passed away peacefully last month surrounded by his family aged just 25 years old.

Matt went to Busy Bees Nursery, Langrish Primary School, Perins School and Peter Symonds College, before going to the University of Nottingham where he achieved a first class degree in physiotherapy.

Matt became the senior academy physiotherapist at Mansfield Town Football Club, which was the start of his ambition of a dream job in football. Matt worked at the club for three-and-a-half years before retiring just two days before he died.

Matt was a qualified Level 6 football referee and he was heavily involved in sport in East Hampshire, playing for Petersfield Town Juniors and Petersfield Cricket Club and coaching youngsters at Petersfield and at Dorset County Cricket Club.

Matt’s father, Andy, said: “Matt inspired young people to achieve their potential through his cricket coaching and his physio work at Mansfield’s academy.

“The bravery he showed from the moment he was diagnosed was incredible.

“He chose to achieve and he had a mischievous sense of humour. He continued to do everything for everybody else, including for us as a family at the end. In my mind, that’s true bravery.”

Matt’s funeral will be held at 1.30pm tomorrow (Friday) in St Peter’s Church in The Square. His family are raising money for CLIC Sargent and Hospice at Home. Visit: www.mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/mattsalmon1