THE two-year-old son of a North-East footballer choked to death just hours after his father celebrated an FA Cup triumph.

Middlesbrough and former England defender Colin Cooper's son, Finlay, choked on the small toy - or toy part - at Saturday tea-time.

All efforts by the family to revive the youngster failed and he died a short time later at Harrogate District Hospital near to the family home at Knaresborough.

The 34-year-old defender, one of the star players in his team's victory over Manchester United on Saturday, and his wife, Julie, have three older daughters.

The player, originally from the Trimdon area of County Durham, and Julie have been married since 1991.

The Coopers - who met when Julie, of Ormesby, Middlesbrough, worked at the club office - were being comforted by their parents last night.

Boro's chief executive, Keith Lamb, last night expressed his sympathy.

"Everyone at the football club is in deep shock at this tragic news," he said.

"Our thoughts are with Colin, Julie and their family at this most difficult of times."

Boro manager Steve McClaren informed Cooper's team-mates of the tragedy when they reported for training yesterday morning. As a mark of respect, the session was cancelled.

A former Boro colleague, retired striker Bernie Slaven, said: "My thoughts are with the family at this time of their personal tragedy."

A life-long friend of the Coopers, Owen Willoughby, coached both Colin as a boy and Colin's father, Dennis, as a child in the Trimdon village area.

He said: "The news began to the filter in last night. Everyone was incredibly upset. Dennis and his wife, Doris, and all the Coopers are such a lovely family. They are very well known and everyone in Trimdon Village was talking about this absolutely dreadful news."

Middlesbrough Supporters Club chairman Dave Buckton said the fans' joy at the FA Cup win will be forgotten when they hear the news.

"It's just dreadful. Obviously he is very popular with the fans as a long-time player," he said.

"It's very difficult to express what you feel when you hear something like this. I've met Colin a couple of times and he is such a lovely lad. Like everyone, our thoughts are with him and his family."

A North Yorkshire police spokesman said all efforts by Finlay's parents, ambulance crews and hospital staff had failed. The toddler was pronounced dead at 6.50pm on Saturday.

Police were investigating but there were no suspicious circumstances.

He said: "Obviously the family are deeply distressed and upset and would ask for privacy."

Julie's parents, Joyce and John Longstaff, were known to be with the family since Saturday night.

Colin Cooper, whose family are avowed Sunderland fans, is currently in his second spell at Middlesbrough. The two-time England capped footballer played for the club in the 1980s and was part of the team which started life in the third division during the club's darkest period in 1986.

He was sold a few years later for £300,000 to Millwall and went on to play for Nottingham Forest. He was brought back to the club three years ago for £2.5m.