Beard's death leaves 'football family devastated'
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Fara Williams says Matt Beard was "one of a kind and had the purest of souls" after the death of the former Liverpool manager aged 47.
Williams was part of Beard's Liverpool side which won back-to-back Women's Super League titles in 2013 and 2014.
Speaking after the Reds' WSL game at Aston Villa was postponed, the former England midfielder described Beard as being "more than a manager" and a "great mentor and friend".
Manchester United boss Marc Skinner told BBC Sport "the football family is devastated" by Beard's death.
Beard began his managerial career with Millwall Lionesses in 2008 and won promotion in his first season.
He was one of a kind and had the purest of souls."
After spells with Boston Breakers, West Ham and Bristol City, Beard returned to Liverpool in 2021 for a four-year term and led the Reds to promotion back to the WSL.
Former England midfielder Williams, who scored 10 goals in 48 games for Liverpool, praised Beard's impact on her career.
"He was somebody that saw potential in me that maybe I didn't see myself.
"He was like an older brother.
Just somebody that cared about everyone else.
"He gave a lot of love, he gave a lot of attention to people.
He was the guy that would find a space for them."
Williams also paid tribute to Beard for the impact he had on women's football.
"He was somebody that cared massively about the women's game and was there from the beginning," she said.
"He was fully focused on trying to drive and get the game to where it is now.
I'm sure he will be proud of where the game is now and the part he played in that.
"He cared about the game, he cared about where he could take the game, he cared about people maybe more than he cared about himself.