THEY may be rivals on the pitch but two Wiltshire football teams united in grief yesterday.

Players from the Swindon Spitfires held a minute’s applause for Rhiannon Brown, the Swindon Town Under-16 Ladies team goalkeeper, who died last week aged just 15.

And the Spitfires were joined in the tribute by players from the opposition side, Melksham, before the two locked horns in a local derby match at South Marston Recreation Ground, in Old Vicarage Lane.

Before the match, the Spitfires paid tribute to Rhiannon, who died at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford after a short illness after complaining of a headache, on Wednesday.

The club said on Twitter: “Our thoughts are with Rhiannon Brown’s family and friends today.

“Such a great talent and nice girl taken so early. Love to all x.”

Many of those involved in football in Swindon have been moved to pay tribute to the popular keeper, a student at Dorcan Academy.

Swindon Town’s first-team captain, Nathan Thompson, and defender Harry Toffolo were among those paying tribute, while friends and teammates released Chinese lanterns in tribute last week.