Andrew MacKinnon, 15, played for Scottish football team Salvesen CFC.
On March 14, the boy collapsed for unknown reasons during a match in Edinburgh. His life could not be saved.
Local vicar Michael Mair describes Andrew as a “lovable rascal” who was caring and loving, but unafraid to tell people exactly what he thought and thought.
– He was unfailingly loyal to his friends and hated injustice. He was always by their side regardless of the challenges they faced, says Michael Mair.
“They refused to leave his side”
Andrew played alongside several of his best friends in the match.
– It is proof of how strong their friendship was that they refused to leave his side, says Michael Mair.
After the tragic event, everyone in the area felt “shock, sadness and disbelief that something like this could happen to someone so young,” according to Mair.
– He is irreplaceable and our hearts are broken.
“He was a very popular little guy”
Andrew was at Hearts, a club that plays in the Scottish Premier League.
“Everyone at the club is thinking of Andrew’s friends and family at this extremely sad time,” writes Hearts on their official Twitter account.
After the boy’s funeral on Friday, hundreds of people paid their respects at Hearts’ home ground Tynecastle in Edinburgh.
“He was a very popular little lad and a devoted Hearts supporter. He had so many friends that he loved along with family and football, says the boy’s father, who is also named Andrew MacKinnon.
