High-flying executive and sportsman Ben Singleton who played for Australia dies suddenly on Christmas Eve aged just 45 – devastating his family
- Ben Singleton is mourned by the sporting community
- Worked as general manager for currency trading
- If you require support, please contact Lifeline 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
Former Australian rules football player Ben Singleton is being mourned after his sudden death on Christmas Eve, aged just 45.
Singleton represented his country in Futsal, a form of football played mainly indoors on a hard court, and is survived by his wife Aki and their young daughters Evie and Joni.
One of Singleton’s former coaches announced the tragic news in a heartbreaking statement this week.
“It is with deep, deep sadness that I write this post,” Scott Gilligan wrote on Facebook.
‘On Christmas Eve one of my best friends, Ben Singleton, aka Door in the Futsal world, passed away.
‘Door was an integral member of the Mad Alison’s, who competed in the National Men’s Club Futsal Championships three consecutive times from 2000 to 2002. In the 2001 final, Door scored the most spectacular Futsal goal I have ever seen when he smashed the ball into the opponent’s far top corner with his heel.
Ben Singleton (pictured bottom right playing Futsal for the Australian national team) is mourned after his sudden death aged just 45
The businessman is survived by his wife Aki (pictured together) and their young daughters Evie and Joni
Singleton (pictured with his daughters) is remembered as a ‘legend of a guy’
‘Door was also an important part of the Futsalroos squad I coached, culminating in a FIFA Futsal World Cup in 2004, scoring a goal against Thailand at that event.
‘Over the last fifteen years we have crossed paths a number of times whenever we could, always catching up on old times.
“However, all good things must come to an end, sometimes sooner than you expect, but the memories will last forever.
“Ben, I trust you have found the champion of peace.”
Singleton’s sister Megan also paid an emotional tribute, writing: “He was simply one of the best, kindest and most respected people, and he will be so terribly missed.”
The former sportsman worked as managing director of a company that described itself as ‘Australia’s best online trading company’, having previously held high-level roles at Bank of America and France’s Credit Agricole.
According to Singleton’s LinkedIn profile, he recently started working as managing director of IC Markets, which is described on its website as “Australia’s top online trading company.”
Previously, his profile includes working as an executive director for the French company Credit Agricole, as a vice president of the Bank of America and as a currency trader for the Commonwealth Bank.
His sister’s Facebook post drew many messages of support and condolences, as did Gilligan’s announcement, who also revealed he will wear his Mad Alison shirt to the funeral “in honor of Door’s memory and purpose.”
Commenters on his post described Singleton as “an incredible human being,” a “legend of a guy,” and a humble man who “always enjoys sharing knowledge of the game.”