FLORAL tributes have been mounting up outside a Stourbridge nightspot where a 24-year-old man was stabbed to death at the weekend.

Ryan Passey of Stockwell Avenue in Quarry Bank, died in hospital shortly after he suffered a stab wound to the chest at the town’s Chicago’s bar in the Ryemarket in the early hours of Sunday morning (August 6).

Relatives, friends and colleagues of the popular footballer have been leaving poignant floral tributes and football club scarves outside the venue which today remained taped off, under police guard.

Stourbridge News:

Ryan, a former Thorns Community College pupil, played football at a number of borough clubs – the managers of which were today queuing up to pay tribute to the likeable young sportsman.

Dave King, former manager of Stourbridge FC youth team where centre midfielder Ryan played in his teens, was struggling to come to terms with news of the tragedy.

He told the News: "He was a lovely lad. He was just a genuine lad who got on well all the rest of the lads on the team; he always conducted himself in the right way.

"He was aged between 15 and 18 when he was with Stourbridge - we called it the dream team as we won everything for about two years.

"It's hard to take in what's happened."

Stourbridge News:

Dudley Sports manager Tony Gore said: “He played for the club for a couple of months after he left Stourbridge’s youth team and was a lovely lad.

“We actually played against him last week when we played Wrens Nest in a pre-season friendly and he was the best player on the pitch.

“It’s such a massive shame and our condolences go out to his family.”

Wren's Nest FC said on Twitter: "We are all devastated to lose our friend & team mate. We offer our whole hearted support to his family & friends."

Dudley Town boss Andy Allardice told the News: “I managed him for about three-and-a-half years for various clubs and he briefly came with me when I got the job at Dudley Town.

“He was a great young lad and a lot of our players know him.

“Everyone at the club would like to send their thoughts to his family. The players will be wearing black armbands this Saturday.”

Dudley College's Team Dudley also posted a tribute on Facebook immediately after the tragedy, saying: “Everyone at Team Dudley is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former player Ryan Passey.

“Our thoughts go out to his family and friends at this time. R.I.P.”

Three men, all aged 19, have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the killing and were today in police custody.

The investigation continues, however, and anyone with information is urged to call West Midlands Police’s Homicide Team on the 101 number (ext 963 3202) quoting log 149 of 6 August.