Football club ‘devastated’ after first team player killed on night out

The player died of his injuries yesterday

A football club has been left devastated after their goalkeeper died following an alleged assault on a night out in York.

James Hitchcock, a married father-of-one from Cottingham in East Yorkshire, died from his injuries in hospital on Wednesday afternoon following an incident at the city's railway station on Sunday.

Hitchcock played for Barton Town FC who paid tribute to him on social media today (Thursday). Barton are a semi-professional club in the Northern Counties East League.

The club chairman Mark Gregory said: "The news of James's death has been hard to take in. It's horrible. James was a popular member of the club. We are all devastated. We are a very close-knit club."

British Transport Police were called to the station at about 20.45 GMT on Sunday after the victim, in his 30s, suffered serious head injuries.

A 22-year-old man, Mckenzie Dicicco of Harsley Road, Stockton-on-Tees, has been charged with murder and affray and is due to appear at York Magistrates' Court later today.

Gregory confirmed that he had personally contacted all players and staff on Wednesday evening to inform them of Hitchcock's death.

Anthony Bowsley, the club's first team manager who played with the keeper at Bridlington Town said: "James was a lovely kid. Just a genuine, all round good guy. He is irreplaceable both as a friend and a player.

"On behalf of the club, I would like to extend my condolences to James's family and friends."

The club's games scheduled for this week have been cancelled as a mark of respect.