MATIJA'S GLOW WILL LIVE ON

MATIJA SARKIC’s former clubs in Non-League have paid tribute to the Millwall goalkeeper after his shock death at the age of 26.

- Matthew Nash

Sarkic reportedly fellill at an apartment in the town of Budva in his home country of Montenegro last Saturday morning.

The Grimsby-born No.1 began his career in Anderlecht’s academy before joining Aston Villa in 2015. He had loan spells at Wigan, Stratford Town, Havant & Waterlooville and Livingston before moving to Wolves in 2020.

He played 60 games during loan spells at Shrewsbury, Birmingham and Stoke before signing for the Lions last August, making 33 appearances and establishing himself as the club’s first-choice keeper.

Those early days in the semi-pro game, learning his trade, shaped him into the player he was to become, according to Havant general manager Gary Pratt.