The grieving mother of well-loved former Swindon Town FC footballer Carla Heaton has paid tribute to her late daughter and shared information about her funeral. 

The 22-year-old's death was announced on Wednesday, November 23, sparking an outpouring of grief and support from friends, family, and the footballing community. 

Since then the community has come together to help Carla's family pay for her funeral, with a GoFundMe page set up by a friend of Carla's receiving £5,250 in donations. 

Read More: People rally behind Carla Heaton's family to help pay funeral costs

Carla's mother Naomi Lawrence, has asked for the details of her funeral to be shared.

"As a family, we’d like to thank everybody for their love, support, tributes, comments, and donations," she said.

"It means so much to us all. The response has been incredible, especially at such a difficult time for the people of Swindon and afar," she said.

“I've had support from up and down the UK and all around the world with tributes from America, Canada, and Ireland, tributes from loads of football teams, some I'd never even heard of, some teams have done games in her memory and I've been presented with signed shirts and gloves. 

“I want to say a special thank you to her current team, Cirencester Town Ladies, she loved her team, and she loved playing for them, everyone was more than just a teammate, they all became friends.”

"But she was more than a just footballer, she was everybody’s friend. 

"I also want to say thank you to her work colleagues, she absolutely loved her job as a nursery nurse, her two passions in life were football and her job, she became part of their family. She was such a loved member of the staff, and loved by children and parents."

Swindon Advertiser: Naomi Lawrence with her daughter Carla Heaton whose death shocked Swindon at the end of NovemberNaomi Lawrence with her daughter Carla Heaton whose death shocked Swindon at the end of November (Image: Naomi Lawrence)

Carla's funeral will take place at the Kingsdown crematorium on December 19 at 1.30pm, with people asked to arrive for 1pm, then onto the Bar71 at the County Ground.

Naomi said: "We welcome everyone who had the pleasure of knowing Carla, but please understand we have had to reserve the main chapel for those who have been given a personal invitation."

A viewing room will have a live feed and those unable to travel will have access to a weblink.

Everyone attending has been asked to wear football shirts or pink/bright colours, and Carla will be given a guard of honour on her approach. 

The family has asked for no flowers but there will be a donation box for the Make-A-Wish Foundation UK.