Chris Sutton's touching tribute to father, Mike, following death after 10-year dementia battle

The former Norwich City midfielder, father of the ex-England international striker who labelled him his "hero", had been battling Dementia for 10 years

Chris Sutton has paid a moving tribute to his father, Mike, after confirming he tragically passed away on Boxing Day.

Mike Sutton had been battling against dementia for the past decade.

He played for Norwich City, Chester City and Carlisle United during his 10-year professional career (1962-1972) before retiring due to injury.

He returned to football with Great Yarmouth Town in 1976, while working as a youth coach at Norwich.

In a touching tribute on Twitter, former Norwich, Blackburn, Chelsea and Celtic striker Chris wrote: "My dad Mike sadly passed away yesterday.

"He was a great sportsman, teacher, husband, dad and grandad. He was my hero and I will miss him so much."

Many of Sutton’s fellow co-workers in television have rallied around the BT Sport and BBC pundit on social media.

Football Focus host Dan Walker said: "Really sorry to hear about your dad Chris. I know you have been valiantly fighting his corner for a long time. May he rest in peace."

Rio Ferdinand posted: "Sorry to hear this Chris. Continue raising the awareness. Blessings to your family."

Sutton has been an outspoken in recent years over his father’s 10-year battle with dementia, and has been critical of the PFA and FA over what he sees as procrastination on their part when it comes to helping families of retired players who are suffering from the incurable, neurodegenerative disease.

In 2002, coroner Andrew Hague found that the former England international Jeff Astle had died from “an industrial disease” caused by repeatedly heading footballs.

The FA and PFA immediately promised to prioritise a 10-year study into the links between football and dementia, the results of which have never been released.

Sutton has campaigned for greater support for former players and their families, while a 2019 study by experts at the Glasgow University proved former footballers are three and a half times more likely to develop dementia.

In November, Sutton spoke about his father’s with dementia, telling ITV Anglia: "How he spends his days, the weight that he's lost, the fact that he can't go to the toilet properly - I defy anybody if that's a member of their family not to be heartbroken by that," Sutton told ITV News Anglia.

"But this isn't isolated. It's hundreds upon hundreds of players who've been neglected."

Earlier in the month, Sutton, writing in his Daily Mail column, published a stinging open letter to PFA chief Gordon Taylor over the PFA’s work in combating the disease.

Earlier this month, Sutton stated that football was “in the dark ages” when it comes to facing up to the potentially disastrous consequences of head injuries.

That came after it was confirmed that Sir Bobby Charlton is yet another former player suffering from the disease, while his fellow World Cup winner Nobby Stiles died after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

After his death in October, his family declared that football needs to "address the scandal" of dementia in the game.