From a Swansea newspaper.

"Tom Butler has revealed how his former Hartlepool team-mates were left sobbing after news broke of Michael Maidens's death.Swansea City's game with Hartlepool was postponed on Saturday as a mark of respect for Maidens, the 20-year-old Pools winger who passed away following a car accident on Friday night.

And Butler, who joined Swansea from the North East club in the summer of 2006, says Danny Wilson's squad could not contemplate playing football this weekend.

Butler spoke to Hartlepool left-back Ritchie Humphreys after the players were told of Maidens's death on Saturday morning.



''They had a team meeting and were given the option of playing the game, but Ritchie said there were 12 or 13 of the lads crying,'' the Irishman said.

''It's a massive loss and it was impossible for them to even consider playing a match. All the players are really close at Hartlepool, they do everything together and it's a massive shock for them.''

Butler played alongside Middlesbrough-born Maidens, who made a total of 31 appearances for Hartlepool but has been out of favour this season and had not travelled to Swansea with the rest of the squad.

''Michael was just a young lad who showed a lot of promise and had a bright future. He was a good footballer and a good person as well,'' Butler added.

''When you hear news like this it's just devastating. It's a big shock for me because I played and trained alongside him.

''For it to happen to a 20-year-old puts things in perspective. It shatters you and makes you realise that things you think are important are not. Everything else becomes irrelevant.''

Swansea immediately agreed to call off Saturday's fixture after Hartlepool got in touch at around 11am.

Maidens had been a passenger in a car which hit a lamp post at 8.25pm on Friday and died on Saturday morning.

Swansea boss Roberto Martinez, No. 2 Graeme Jones and club chaplain Kevin Johns visited the Hartlepool party at the Marriott Hotel after learning of Maidens's fate.

Jones was another who knew the youngster, having worked with him for a spell at Hamilton last season.

''Michael played a couple of friendlies for us with a view to coming on loan, although it didn't happen in the end because of the three-club rule,'' Swansea's assistant manager said.

''He was a quality individual. He was immaculately dressed and well spoken and I remember when we tried to give him expenses for games, he wouldn't take them. He was an attacking midfield player with lots of potential and he lived his life correctly.

''What's happened is just devastating for his family. It's tragic news and it's hit me quite hard because I knew him personally.

''I know it's hit Danny Wilson and his players hard too. A few of them came right through the youth ranks with Michael and it's had a huge impact.

''They were in no fit state to play football and, while we all want to play the game, the human side takes priority in situations like this. Michael and his family are at the forefront of our thoughts.''


Swansea's reserves, meanwhile, travel to Exeter City tomorrow night (7pm).

Nice article. I have not seen todays Mail. Is the Mail article any good?

Nothing special to be honest but they've dedicated the first 4 pages to it. To be honest, the best article I've seen so far was the one on Rivals.