Thousands raised for Manchester City fan Gary Bradshaw after 35-year-old found dead hours before game in Spain

Guy Bradshaw was found dead in Benidorm just hours before City's Champions League match against Villarreal

The fundraiser for the Manchester City fan who died while on a trip to watch the team play has almost reached its target in less than 24 hours.

Guy Bradshaw travelled to Spain to see City's Champions League game against Villarreal on Tuesday night (October 21).

The 35-year-old was in a large group of fellow city fans who had made the journey and was staying at a tourist resort in Benidorm, around 130 miles away from Villarreal's stadium.However, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, hours before kick-off, a friend of Guy's found him dead in the apartment he was staying in.

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Tributes have poured in for the City fan from Wythenshawe who has been described as 'gentle, kind and caring'. A GoFundMe was set up to support his grieving family with a £25k target set.Since then, hundreds have flooded to the page to leave messages of condolences and show their support. Among them is an anonymous donor who left a donation of £8.5k.

Family members have now paid a moving a tribute to dad-of-one Guy, with stunned fellow fans also paying their respects.

His cause of death has not yet been confirmed, but the Manchester Evening News understand that the family have been informed there are 'no suspicious circumstances.'

Guy's dad Martin, 56, was on his way to Villarreal to meet Guy at the game but changed his route when he heard the terrible news.

"A lot of people have bad words for social media but the lovely messages, lovely pictures, thousands of pictures I've seen are touching and gives me that comfort to cope while I'm here," he told the Manchester Evening News.

"I'm also getting hands-on support from the staff at City, who have been extraordinary. I don't know what I would have done without them turning up to help us at such a difficult time.

"We're doing this for Guy because he deserves everything."

Just hours earlier, Guy had posted a video on social media with Ricky Hatton's son Campbell Hatton, where the pair were both singing 'there's only one Ricky Hatton.'

Guy, a former Parklands High School and Ringway Primary School pupil who ran his own carpet cleaning business, also leaves behind his 12-year-old daughter, Ava, his mum Jeanette, twin brother Kane and younger brother Zak.

Guy's cousin described her cousin as a 'gentle' man who 'idolised his daughter' and 'lived for City.'

"He was so well-known in Wythenshawe, and by City fans," she said. "He was really gentle, kind and caring. He was never in any trouble. He never had any enemies. He lived for City and his young daughter. He idolised her."

She said his death had left the whole family feeling 'empty.'

"We're just completely shocked, as he was so young," she said. "He was a healthy lad. The whole family is just devastated."

She said the trip was booked last minute and that Guy forgot to book travel insurance, meaning the family now faced a hefty bill to have his body repatriated to the UK.

A Manchester City spokesman posted on X today: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Guy Bradshaw, a City supporter who tragically died in Spain before the Club’s match against Villarreal last night.

"Everyone at the Club sends their condolences to his family, friends, and fellow fans during this difficult time. Once a Blue, Always a Blue."

Tributes also flooded in on social media with a fundraising page set up for Guy's family here.

One pal said on X, formerly Twitter,: "RIP to the biggest blue there ever was! Guy Bradshaw Followed the club over land and sea all his life and through the lower divisions when we were younger.

"Absolutely gutted for his family and especially his young daughter. Rest in peace mate."

Another said on Facebook: "Devastated to hear the passing of Guy Bradshaw whilst away watching the Blues. Top lad, worked with him a few years back and used to see him at matches. My thoughts are with your family pal."

Whilst a third said: "What sad news to wake up to. You was only doing what you do best, following City everywhere. Thinking of the family."