Ex-Man United star Bobby Power dies after cancer battle aged 40 just weeks after marrying his childhood sweetheart in front of friends and family on Valentine’s Day
Ex-Manchester United star Bobby Power has died aged 40 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
The footballer died in Dr. Kershaw’s Hospice in Oldham, just two weeks after he married his childhood sweetheart Jemma Power-Bliss in front of friends and family on Valentine’s Day.
The sportsman also left behind his three young daughters Loren, 20, Kaitlyn, 19, and 12-year-old Heidi.
Bobby was a youth player for Manchester United in the 1990s before recently gaining a huge following on social media as a motivational fitness guru who enjoyed outdoor climbing.
As a teenager, he also played the role of ‘Gweldig’ Gordon Burley in the cult classic football film ‘There’s Only One Jimmy Grimble’ in 2000.
Friends of the footballer described his wedding to childhood sweetheart Jemma as ‘beautiful’ and ‘special’, allowing the couple to exchange their vows at ‘very short notice’ before disaster struck.
Bobby Power, 40, (photo) passed away in Dr. Kershaw’s Hospice in Oldham after a battle with pancreatic cancer
Photos show the footballer marrying his childhood sweetheart Jemma Power-Bliss on Valentine’s Day, in the presence of friends and family
Bobby’s health deteriorated dramatically after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
Bobby married his high school sweetheart Jemma just weeks before his tragic death
Bobby was a youth player at Manchester United in the 1990s
Bobby played the role of Gorgeous Gordon Burley in the cult classic football film ‘There’s Only One Jimmy Grimble’ in 2000
Moving footage shows the pair holding hands surrounded by loved ones on their wedding day, with Bobby looking visibly unwell compared to his previously muscular appearance.
A JustGiving page set was set up by friend of the star Leigh Sarsfield, who thanked those who contributed to the wedding. ‘(Thank you) for organizing a beautiful wedding that allowed Bobby & Jem to become husband and wife at very short notice and made their day so special. The continued support for Bobby and his family at such a challenging time from every member of staff is truly incredible, we can’t thank you enough,” the page read.
Bobby was known among friends and family as an incredibly fit person who went to the gym three times a day, which made his sudden diagnosis even more devastating.
He was a United youth footballer from north Manchester when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge at Old Trafford.
The athlete’s mother, Estrella Barry, recalled the moment Bobby told her he had pancreatic cancer. ‘I thought: ‘No way, not you… you’re going to be 110 years old.’ But unfortunately it was true,” she said.
Bobby first knew something was wrong when he felt lethargic than usual after climbing a mountain. He then started having no appetite before he started turning ‘yellow’.
Bobby was known among friends and family as an incredibly fit person who went to the gym three times a day
Bobby began losing weight and muscle rapidly after he was tragically diagnosed with cancer
Bobby started having a loss of appetite before he started turning ‘yellow’ before he was diagnosed
The athlete gained a large following on social media as a motivational fitness guru
Bobby enjoyed climbing mountains outdoors and went to the gym three times a day, his family said
Bobby was a motivational fitness guru who enjoyed climbing in the great outdoors
Bobby was known for his positive attitude towards fitness and mental health
Bobby was a talented football player who later became a talented fitness guru
Bobby took care of himself and was known for being incredibly physically fit
His muscles began to disintegrate as his cancer progressed and he soon became unrecognizable in appearance, with hospital photographs showing him looking gaunt and unwell.
‘He spent the rest of his life trying to find a cure. He wanted to live for his girls. He did everything he could,” Estrella said.
She added: “When he wasn’t in the gym he was climbing mountains. He loved helping other people. That was what he was really about: helping people physically and mentally.’
One of his three daughters, Kaitlyn Eadsforth, paid an emotional tribute to her father. ‘He was very outgoing. Literally wherever he went, he would talk to everyone,” she said.
“He was like a social butterfly in every room he walked into.”