Roberto Martinez in emotional tribute to football fan and pen pal killed in car crashThe former Premier League boss stayed in touch with Swansea City fan Tom Lewis after the then 12-year-old wrote to him during his playing daysFormer Premier League manager Roberto Martinez has paid an emotional tribute to a dedicated fan who was killed in a car crash.
The Spanish boss became pen pals with Swansea City fan Tom Lewis, 22, when he was still a midfielder for the club.
But Martinez, who was sacked as Everton manager in May, said he was left "shocked and saddened" when he learned Tom tragically died in a smash last week.
Their friendship began in 2006 when a then 12-year-old Tom began writing to his hero. He was subsequently invited to Martinez' home and given a signed shirt.
The pair kept in touch and Martinez - who managed the Swans after retiring as a player before moving on to Wigan Athletic and Everton - arranged for Tom to attend games at all three clubs.
Swansea fan Tom Lewis, 22, died in a car crash last week
Martinez said: "He was a very nice boy so we kept in touch. I am shocked and saddened to hear what has happened because he was such a good boy.
"He came from a nice family with good parents and also his sister. He loved the Swans.
"Tom came to see me just after I had left Swansea as a player. He was just a young boy then but he became a man.
"He wrote me a letter. It was a very good letter – very thoughtful and rational. I invited him to come to my house and we spent a bit of time talking.
"He was a very nice boy. We talked football and after that we kept in touch. He came up to watch Wigan play and then he came a couple of times to Everton and I arranged tickets for him.
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"He was so understanding and kind to me when I left, even though he was disappointed that I was going. It was a really nice moment for me to share with him.
"Then I saw him grow from that age to be a man. He was polite and disciplined – he would wait to see me after games."
A Swansea City spokesman said: "Everyone at Swansea City was devastated to hear of the tragic loss of Thomas.
"Not only was he an important part of our growing Swansea City family, he was one of the club's biggest and most loyal fans.
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"To lose someone so young is difficult to comprehend, especially for his friends and family, and the thoughts and prayers of everyone at the football club are with them all at this sad time.
"He will be deeply missed by everyone."
Police appealed for witnesses over the crash in which Tom's Dacia Sandero left the A483 dual carriageway at Parc Penllegaer, near Swansea, last Tuesday.
Daily Mirror
