Tributes have been paid to former Carlisle United captain Nigel Saddington, who has died.

The Blues today said their former centre-half, who played for the club from 1988-91, has passed away aged 53.

Saddington was a big favourite among United fans and chairman Andrew Jenkins today saluted the Wearsider.

Jenkins said: "He was a fantastic footballer for the club and was made club captain by Clive Middlemass because he was a real leader on and off the pitch, and the players all looked up to him.

"He was a regular goalscorer and one who would drive the lads on, even when it looked like the game was out of reach.

"We were all extremely shocked to learn of this news. We kept in touch with him over the years and our thoughts are with his family at this extremely sad time."

United's community sports trust manager John Halpin played with Saddington at Brunton Park and also paid tribute to his former team-mate.

Former winger Halpin said: "Nigel wasn't a shouter or bawler - he was quiet on and off the pitch - but he really led by example.

"He was a ball-playing centre-half, a good footballer and a good lad.

"He was one of those players who was very confident in his own ability. He wasn't frightened to dribble past two or three players and that wasn't very often the done thing for centre-halves in those days.

"Lads in that position were more often prepared to get rid of it and ask the forwards to do the work.

"But Nigel was quite happy to get on the ball and join in the attacking and in training was comfortable taking up any position on the field.

"He also weighed in with a few goals and took a good penalty, which again wasn't something too many centre-halves did.

"That again showed the confidence he had in his ability."

Halpin added: "He was just one of those lads you could rely on every week.

"You could bank on him giving you a 7/10 performance and I'm sure that's one of the reasons Clive made him captain and also tried to build the team around him.

"He was good around the dressing room and as a professional he just got on with things - he came in, did his job and went home.

"The news is very hard to take in. It's a very sad day for the club and of course for Nigel's family."

Saddington started his career at Doncaster, then moving to Sunderland before signing for Carlisle in the 1987/8 season.

He made 97 league appearances for the Cumbrians.

The defender left the Blues in 1991 ahed 25, having been diagnosed with ME.

Halpin added: "It was a real shame that his health issues ended his time at the club. He had the ability to have gone on and had a long and successful career."

He went on to play for Gateshead, and after retirement worked for a car dealership in the north east and also coached in primary schools.

Former school pal David Corner was in the Sunderland side when Saddington made his Black Cats debut in 1986.

He said: "I grew up with the lad, we went to the same school and were in the same class - then we were playing in the Sunderland first team together.

"He was a great lad, real salt-of-the-earth, the kind who would do anything for you."

Corner, 52, added: "We were very close as lads, although we hadn't spoken for a few years.

"He was a hard-working family man and good as gold.

"As a player, he was good with both feet. He could ping a ball accurately with either foot from 30 or 40 yards.

"He was also very quick over the first few yards so not many centre-forwards got away from him.

"He was good to play with. We had a good understanding together.

"A number of us who played together at that time are struggling to take the news in. It's just a massive shock."