A minute's silence was observed at Warminster Town Football Club on Wednesday in tribute to former player Tim Greatley, who lost his courageous battle with leukaemia on Saturday.

Mr Greatley, 25, who grew up in Warminster, was diagnosed with the disease last May. He underwent a bone marrow transplant at the Royal Free Hospital in London in October but was told on February 8 that the disease was terminal and he could have just months to live.

He was taken to the Great Western Hospital in Swindon on Tuesday with breathing difficulties and died on Saturday, surrounded by his family.

Mum Fiona Blackwood, 46, of Fenway Park in Chippenham, and dad Rob said their son’s bravery was an inspiration and he would be missed by everybody who knew him, especially his daughters Emma, six, and Lily, four.

Mrs Blackwood said: “Tim was a very loving son and he is going to be so sadly missed. He put up a long, brave fight. I think many people would have given up long before him but it was his little girls that made him fight for his life.

“He did everything with them, he was a very hands-on dad and he loved bathing them and putting them to bed at night.

“He loved reading so he really encouraged his girls to read and Emma is a very good little reader now.”

The former Kingdown School student, who has two brothers, Steve, 28, Jason, 24, and sister Michelle, 27, as well as step-brother Matt Greatley, 16, step-sister Kate Douglas, 20, half-sister Victoria Blackwood, seven, and half-brother Thomas Blackwood, five, played for Warminster Town Under 16s, the under 18s and the senior team as centre back before quitting to spend more time with his daughters.

Brother Jason, of Paxman’s Road, Westbury, said: “Tim loved all sports, but especially football, golf and speedway. Almost every photograph we have of him he is wearing a Liverpool football shirt.

“He was always smiling, even towards the end, and he always put others before him. When he was told he could have just months to live, he was upset and distressed for about 10 minutes, but then he picked himself up and just got on with it.

“His main concern was that he would have to leave his little girls so early. He was a brilliant dad and he lived for his daughters.

“He started making a list of what he wanted to do with the time he had left, including going to watch the Liverpool game this week and simple things like taking his daughters to the zoo, but unfortunately he didn’t make it. He was so brave and he fought so hard.”

Dad Rob, 46, of Horsham, said he bonded with his son through their shared love of speedway.

“We supported the Poole Pirates and it was speedway that defined our relationship. We could talk about it for hours,” he said.

Warminster Town manager Jason Guy said: “Tim would always chat to everyone, he was a well liked chap.

“Warminster is a small community, everybody knows everybody, and somewhere along the line I would think most people would have met Tim. He was such a lovely lad and this is just a terribly sad situation.”

Mr Guy said club members had planned to run in the Bristol 10k this year for club funds, but half of the money will now go towards Cancer Research UK in memory of Mr Greatley. The funeral will be held at the West Wiltshire Crematorium, Semington tomorrow at 1.45pm. Donations can be made to Cancer Research UK or Leukaemia Care.