Teen star loses cancer battle

A teenage football star from Wolverhampton has lost her battle with cancer just two weeks after enjoying "the best day" of her life.

Jade Yates' dreams came true when she was treated to a VIP tour of Wolves' Compton Park training ground with heroes including manager Mick McCarthy and player Michael Kightly.

At the time she told the Express & Star "It was the best day of my life."

Family and friends today paid tribute to the 17-year-old, of Coleman Street, in Whitmore Reans, who played for Bilbrook Ladies Football Club.

The right-winger was hoping to score a record-breaking 50 goals for the club after netting 48 goals for the side during her career, including 33 in one season.

Jade was playing in a game for the team in February last year when the coach noticed she looked pale. Just 24 hours later she was taken to hospital where she was diagnosed with leukaemia.

The St Edmund's Catholic School pupil underwent a bone marrow transplant. Sadly the transplant was unsuccessful and Jade's condition quickly deteriorated. She died at home on Friday with her family by her side.

Her parents Kim and John Yates, twin sister Demi and sisters Zoe, 27, and Alexis, 26, today paid tribute to their "very special girl."

They said in a statement: "She was the sort of person you meet once and remember forever."

Wolves vice president Rachael Heyhoe-Flint said Jade's friends at Wolves were "devastated" by the news of her death. Jade will be cremated wearing her prized signed Wolves shirt.