Former Manchester City youth player Courtney Meppen-Walter has died aged 32.
His death was announced by his old club Bury, who wrote that they were “saddened” to learn the news.
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“The thoughts of everyone at Bury FC are with their families and friends at this incredibly difficult time,” a statement on social media said.
The cause and circumstances of Meppen-Walter’s death have not been released.
The defender was released by Bury last summer.
He was also a former England captain and played for Carlisle United, Chorley, Stockport, and Telford United.
In a statement, Telford United said the death was “saddened” by Meppen-Walter and was “tragically young”.
The statement said: “We send our sincere condolences and best wishes to Courtney’s family, friends, and those with whom she shared the room, and we hope the kindness shown to you by the football community can be a comfort during this difficult time.”
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Meppen-Walter was arrested in 2013 for the fatal driving deaths of two people.
He was at the wheel of his grandfather’s Mercedes C220 saloon and doing almost double speed at 30mph when he hit a Nissan Micra emerging from a side street in central Manchester.
The court heard Meppen-Walter was “jockeying” and “playing games” with a friend in another vehicle before the crash.
The driver of the Nissan, Kulwant Singh, 32, and his sister, front seat passenger Ravel Kaur, 37, were both killed.
Both victims had come to the UK in 2001 to start a new life after fleeing persecution by the Taliban.
Courtney Meppen-Walter, pictured at the Crown Court in Manchester (AFP/Getty)
Ms Kaur’s two sons, aged 16 and 17, were both rear passengers injured in the crash.
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The crash left them orphans, as their father had been killed in Afghanistan.
Meppen-Walter served half of his 16-month sentence and was handed a two-day-a-week trial at Carlisle United just days after he was released from prison.
In 2019, he was given a 22-month driving ban after being caught drink-driving.
He was twice over the legal limit after drinking with friends at a Christmas market, and his car was spotted on CCTV reversing down the road.
At his sentencing, the judge said: “I know what you’re probably thinking and what everyone else is thinking. I’ll prove to everyone under the sun that I’ve been named and I deserve it. Shame on me.”
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Jon Gold, chairman of another club at Meppen-Walter, Nantwich, remembered him on Tuesday as “a larger-than-life character with a big heart”.
In a tribute on the club’s website, Gold said: “He left a lasting impression on all those lucky enough to meet him and while some times in his life were sadly darkened by the fact that he never ran away, we knew Courtney was full of strength and inspiration and our hearts go out to his family and all who knew him at such an incredibly sad time.”
Jamie Vermiglio, chair of Chorley, for whom Meppen-Walter stood in 2016, said on the club’s X program: “This is really tragic news that will devastate so many people.”
He continued: “Many of us at Chorley FC considered Mepps a good friend.
“He was someone who kept in touch with many of his former teammates, and in terms of friendships throughout his time at the club, he remained much loved.”