A charity football match took place this weekend to celebrate the life of a “passionate” and “inspiring” young goalkeeper who died suddenly aged just 15.

Rhiannon Brown, a former pupil of Dorcan Academy passed away on January 21, 2015, after falling ill.

On Saturday, January 25, former members of Swindon Town Women's Under-16s got together to play a match for a legacy fund for young talent that is set up in Rhiannon's name.

Speaking with the BBC ahead of the fixture, her coach and mentor Shane Hewlett said: “She absolutely loved the club, she loved playing football and she loved Swindon Town.

"She was fearless, aggressive and took pride in being a strong goalkeeper.

"She was wholly committed to it and even supported us working with the under-10s and the under-11s."

Rhiannon Brown Alice Telling was one of Rhiannon's teammates and also played for Swindon Town Women and trained with the Girls' Centre For Excellence.

Ms Telling told the BBC: "Rhi was the heart and spirit of any team she was part of.

"Off the pitch she was always dancing in the changing rooms and making everyone laugh but on the pitch she was determined to do her best for the team.

"She was so talented and would fight to the end of every game, always believing in her teammates."

The circumstances surrounding Rhiannon’s death prove just what a unique and courageous character the budding young Swindon keeper was.

Before her tragic death, Rhiannon had signed up to be a donor without telling her father, Jason, who only found out from a hospital consultant after she had passed away.

Rihannon Brown The gesture was typical of Rhiannon, who gave up much of her spare time to help with training organised by Swindon Town during school holidays, including for under-10s.

However, the scale of the impact that Rhiannon’s decision had were immeasurable as her organs were used to save the lives of three people, including an 11-year-old boy.

Rhiannon’s decision inspired Jason to back the ‘opt out’ proposal for organ donation, whereby organ donation is automatically assumed unless otherwise stated.

Read more: Daughter's unknown decision to donate her organs has saved three lives

Speaking with the Swindon Advertiser back in 2018, he said: “After all the difficulties it’s uplifting to know that Rhiannon lives on through the donation of her organs, which were all transplanted successfully.

“Though the people who had the transplants are anonymous, we know that she has saved or changed people’s lives and changed the lives of their families as well.

“My friends and workmates have been inspired by her story to sign up to be a donor and 90 per cent of the people I speak to think it’s a good idea."