FORMER Gravesend & Northfleet FC skipper Bruce Sewell has died aged 40 following a five-year battle against motor neurone disease.

Sewell, who leaves behind a wife and two young sons, made 56 appearances for the Fleet between 1998 and 2000 after joining from Boreham Wood.

However his spell at the Stonebridge Road club was cut short when he suffered a broken leg.

Sewell scored six goals for the Fleet and played for the club alongside Jimmy Bullard, who now plays in the Premiership for Hull City.

When his playing career ended, Sewell became physio for Luton Town.

After he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2005, Sewell vowed to beat the odds that the illness claims 50 per cent of sufferers in the first two years.

His family and friends set up website Road2Hope to raise funds to support him.

Three days before he passed away Sewell had emailed the Ebbsfleet United website to say: “We have just updated our website at www.road2hope.com.

“I always look at the Fleet's results and see how you are doing. Thanks for thinking of me and obviously, if Luton do not go up and you do not go down, please keep me in mind to raise funds for next season.

“It’s coming up to five years now since my diagnosis and although it is very difficult we now have two lovely boys that keep life fun. Thanks again for thinking of me.”

Jessica McQueen of the MyFC Board and Fleet Trust paid tribute.

She said: “Bruce was a wonderful chap and anyone who saw him play would have realised his passion for the game that is football.

“When he was badly injured playing for GNFC I visited him in hospital and took some fruit that has been purchased by a then supporters association, he was really pleased and touched that fans had bothered.”

Before joining Gravesend & Northfleet, which changed its name to Ebbsfleet United in 2007, Sewell played for Ford United, Purfleet, Billericay, Yeading and St Albans and represented the British Universities side.

Sewell, who died on March 28, is survived by his wife Annabel and two sons Noah, aged six, and Henry, three.

The funeral takes place tomorrow in east London.

Leave your tribute messages to Bruce below.