Tributes paid to Derry City FC captain Ryan McBride

The 27-year-old defender died at home on Sunday evening

A cause of death is not yet known, with his funeral to take place at 10am in St Columba's Church in Derry.

His death comes a day after McBride led his team to a 4-0 victory over Drogheda United.

Drogheda United said on Twitter that they would "would like to offer our deepest condolences to @derrycityfc on the sudden passing of their captain Ryan McBride''.

The Irish Football Association has expressed its sympathy to the family of Ryan McBride. Irish FA Chief Executive, Patrick Nelson, said:

“The whole football family on the island of Ireland is shocked by the tragic news of Ryan McBride’s passing. Our thoughts are with his family and with Derry City Football Club, its supporters and staff.”

Joe O'Donnell is long-time member of the North Side Derry City Supporter's club. He said on Monday that the city is "completely numb".

"There were rumours at tea-time yesterday that there was something happening in the house where he lived - just a stone's throw from the Brandywell. And then around 8 o'clock it was confirmed that Ryan McBride was found dead in his bed. His father found him dead in his bed."

"After Saturday afternoon we were on a high - we went to our new ground for the season, McGinn Park, down in Buncrana where we won 4-nil. And he was once again Man of the Match - he was fantastic, he had a great game."

"He was a very good player, a very strong and very committed player. He was fantastic for us - he scored two goals in our last two matches."

Mr O'Donnell says as the tragic news began to spread, hundreds of people appeared outside Ryan McBride's house:

"You couldn't get near the house, it was just jammed tight because the Brandywell area is all small side streets. Hundreds appeared after the news went up on Facebook -the news spread within minutes. And hundreds came down. There were girls crying - nobody could believe it."

Mr O'Donnell said McBride was a top class player and person:

"He was very good with children. You would see a lot of times his photograph in the paper with all the wee ball boys and mascots. He was always there - he spoke to everybody. He was just a down to earth man who worked in a local pub."

"His mother passed away a few years ago. So it was just his father and three sisters. And they are completely numb."

"The City of Derry is definitely in shock. I don't know how we are going to recover. It's going to be a very hard recovery for the players, but I think they will lift their game again and try and just get on with it."

This is the second tragedy to strike the club in just over a year.

Ex-Derry City and Glenavon striker Mark Farren died aged 33 in February 2016.

Derry's record goalscorer had been receiving treatment for an aggressive brain tumour.

A year ago, Derry player Josh Daniels lost his mother, sister, brother-in-law and nephews in the Buncrana pier tragedy.

A car slid off the pier and entered Lough Swilly

Mr O'Donnell said it just seems to be "one blow after another" for the city and the club:

"That was a wild hard time too for young Josh Daniels but thankfully hes back on the team now again and starting to look up again. It's been a sad time for the city. But the thing of it is, we are all behind each other when things like that happen. We just try and work with the best of it."

John Delaney, chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland, said Irish football was in mourning after losing a "true great of the game''.

"I would like to pass on my deepest condolences to Ryan's family, friends, and his club, Derry City FC, for which he was their leader, their captain and their inspiration,'' he said.

"On behalf of the FAI Board and everyone in the Association, I would like to offer our sympathies to all who were blessed to have known Ryan.

"Ryan's passing has left a deep shock throughout football.''

A special tribute to McBride will be made at the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Wales in Dublin on Friday.

McBride made his debut for his home town club in 2011 and was a firm fans' favourite thanks in part to his committed style of defending.

He played more than 100 league matches for Derry.

The club's SSE Airtricity Premier League game against Limerick on Tuesday has been postponed.