Wife pays Emotional Tribute to Tony Johnson after 'Very much-loved Gramps' dies in Hospital

"He will be one missed gentleman and the party will live on through us all"

Lifelong Blackpool FC fan Tony Johnson has died after suffering head injuries outside a pub, with people saying he will be remembered as a "very much loved dad, son, brother, uncle and Gramps".

Tony died Monday morning in hospital after suffering serious head injuries outside the Manchester Pub in Blackpool between the junctions of Lytham Road & the Promenade on Sunday. Police attended the scene at 7pm when the incident broke out outside the pub.

Police had already been in the area after the Blackpool v Burnley match & arrived on the scene to find the 55-year-old having suffered a serious head injury. He was rushed to hospital but later died of his injuries.

His Wife has paid an emotional tribute today to the man she has described as 'her best friend and soul mate' She said: "I am devastated to have lost my best friend, life partner and soul mate in a cruel act. Tony was a very much loved dad, son, brother, uncle and Gramps and obviously a beloved friend to many.

“We all, as a family, are so heartbroken and our lives are never going to be the same. Thank you to the NHS, staff in A&E and the Critical Care Unit at BVH who all did as much as they could for our loved one.

“Thank you for everyone for reaching out but please could you respect our privacy at this difficult time. He will be one missed gentleman and the party will live on through us all, just as he would've wanted. Rest in peace my darling, tangerine dreams forever."

The altercation, it is believed, broke out between a number of opposing football fans, with Mr Johnson being injured during the incident. at this time there is no suggestion that he was targeted specifically. a 33-year-old man, from Burnley, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of wounding and has since been let out on bail, pending further inquests, until June 1st.

Blackpool & Burnley football clubs are working closely with Police to establish who else may have been involved and help find out what exactly occurred. DCI Tracy McMurdo, of Lancashire Police, Said: “Mr Johnson’s family are devastated by their loss and we are supporting them at this incredibly difficult time.

“The incident took place in a busy area and we know there were a lot of people around at the time who will have seen all or part of what happened, and there may also be people who filmed the incident on a mobile phone or captured it on CCTV or dashcam. If you have any information that will help us piece together what happened, please get in touch.

“We also continue to ask people not to post any footage they might have on social media. Mr Johnson’s family are distressed enough and seeing anything of this nature will only cause them more pain. If you have already posted something online, we respectfully ask that you remove it.”

Anybody with information should call 101, quoting log 675 of March 6 or report it online at . Alternative, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.