The family of an England football supporter who died in Bulgaria has been given a date for a pre-inquest into his death following more than five years of “hell”.

Rob Spray died in Sofia on October 14, 2019 ahead of England’s European Championship qualifier against Bulgaria, which he had travelled to watch, after suffering a cardiac arrest while in police custody.

A petition calling for an investigation into Mr Spray’s death surpassed 100,000 signatures, but it took a coroner almost five years to receive all the necessary paperwork from Bulgarian authorities for an inquest to be opened.

During that time, Mr Spray’s mother Jillian died of cancer, leaving his father Malcolm and sister Katie searching for answers.

Now, a date of February 25 has been set for a pre-inquest into Mr Spray’s death, which happened in Sofia during the 30th birthday celebrations of his childhood friend Andrew McMath.

Mr Spray, who died aged 32, was described as a “gentle giant” by friends and family, who were left devastated by his death. One friend of the family said they have been through “hell”.

The family of Mr Spray, of Heath Hayes in Staffordshire, has never been told why he was discharged from Pirogov hospital into police custody, given that he suffered a fatal cardiac arrest shortly afterwards with no doctors on hand to help him. Bulgarian officials originally reported that Mr Spray had been found in a “helpless condition” before being taken to hospital.

An initial pre-inquest held in 2022 determined that Bulgarian authorities had not passed on all the relevant evidence including witness and hospital reports, as well as camera footage, which the coroner has now received.

The funeral of Mr Spray, a West Bromwich Albion season ticket holder, was held at Staffordshire Crematorium on November 14, 2019.

The pre-inquest into his death will determine where and when the final inquest will take place, witnesses who need to give evidence and whether a jury will be needed.