THE world of football paid tribute this week to former Blackpool goalkeeper Les Sealey who died from a heart attack aged 43.

He was signed from Manchester United at the start of the 1994-95 season by the then Blackpool manager, Sam Alardyce, and played in the first nine games before going to West Ham.

In a career which spanned 22 years and included 564 games, he played for Luton, Coventry, Birmingham, Aston Villa, Plymouth, Bury, Leyton Orient and Manchester United as well as West Ham and Blackpool. During his spell at United, Les played in the 1990 FA Cup Final and the 1991 European Cup Winners Cup Final, both of which United won.

Sealy, who died last Sunday, leaves a wife, Elaine, and two teenage sons, Joe and George, who are both trainee goalkeepers at West Ham.