West Ham United captain Kevin Nolan has paid tribute to loyal Newcastle United supporters John Alder and Liam Sweeney after they lost their lives on flight MH17.
The pair watched Nolan in action during his stint as Newcastle captain.
Nolan told the Evening Chronicle: "It's just so sad.
"We obviously heard the news on the morning when we woke up before we came out here.
"And to think of the passion of playing for Newcastle United and that passion of the fans, and I know what they are like is devastating.
"They are football mad.
"They travel anywhere to see their team.
"When I heard that two of them were on it - two lads who were there week in, week out - when I was playing, to hear they were on that flight my heart went out to the families immediately."
