Len Johnrose: Ex-Bury & Burnley midfielder dies aged 52, five years after motor neurone disease diagnosis

Image source, 成人快手 Radio Lancashire

Image caption, Len Johnrose spoke with the aid of a voice bank using recordings of his voice made after he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2017

Former Bury and Burnley midfielder Len Johnrose has died aged 52.

Johnrose was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2017, a disease that affects the brain and nerves for which there is no cure.

He played 502 career games including spells at Blackburn Rovers, Preston North End, Hartlepool and Swansea City, with more than 200 of those with Bury.

His hometown club Preston tweeted their "sadness" at the news of his passing.

Burnley added a tribute, saying: "You'll always be a Claret," while Blackburn have also paid their respects.

Swansea, for whom Johnrose scored in their comeback 4-2 win against Hull City on the final day of the 2002-03 season to preserve their Football League status, said they would hold a minute's applause and wear black armbands during their match against Millwall on Tuesday.

Following his MND diagnosis, the Len Johnrose Trust was set up in order to raise funds and awareness of the disease.

Speaking to 成人快手 Radio Lancashire in July, Johnrose had said that he was "aware that he could die at any time".