Man City Release Statement After Fan Dies Before Villarreal Clash

Manchester City have released a statement after a supporter tragically died before their Champions League fixture against Villarreal in Spain on Tuesday night. Guy Bradshaw, 35, who was a much-loved fanatic of the club, was found dead in his Benidorm apartment by a friend in the early hours of the morning.

Just hours earlier, he 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, whose dad, Martin, was supposed to be flying out to meet him ahead of kickoff, also leaves behind his young daughter, his mum Jeanette, twin brother Kane and younger brother Zak.

A GoFundMe page, named ‘In Loving Memory of Guy Bradshaw,’ has been set up to help his family bring him home, cover funeral costs, and support them with whatever else is needed. At the time of writing, £16,000 has already been raised out of the £20,000 target – including one £8,500 anonymous donation.

Man City Release Statement After Fan Dies Before Villarreal Clash

Guy was, and will remain, a prominent figure in the Man City fanbase, and the club wrote on X (see the full statement below):

An outpouring of love and support for Guy’s family has followed the sad news, with one Man City supporter also paying respects by writing (see below): “From a tiny boy either playing for my team or travelling all over to watch city in the 90s, right up to the highs of our greatest nights.”

His cause of death has not yet been confirmed, but Guy’s cousin Jess Bradshaw, 26, told the Manchester Evening News that the family have been informed there are ‘no suspicious circumstances.’