Tributes to man who aided CL defence
Tributes have come in to football fan Tom Smith, who has sadly passed away after playing a small part in helping Liverpool defend their Champions League trophy in 2005-06.
When the Reds famously won their fifth European Cup in 2005 after the miracle of Istanbul, initially they were refused the honour of playing in the Champions League the following season because UEFA rules stated the team had to finish in the top four in their domestic league to qualify.
However, the club fought hard to change the rule and allow Liverpool to defend their trophy - and Smith certainly played a key role in that.
Smith was born in Motherwell and played football for Clyde and West Bromwich Albion. He was a resident in Warrington and was a Manchester City season ticket holder since the 1960s.
Despite his City allegiances, he recognised as a football fan that Liverpool should be able to defend their trophy.
He set up an online petition, which in a matter of days collected more than 100,000 signatures, and he then forwarded on to lobby Sepp Blatter and the UEFA officials to allow Liverpool the right to defend their trophy.