Cardiff City have confirmed that their former midfielder Peter Whittingham has died at the age of 35. 

Whittingham sustained a head injury in what South Wales Police deemed "an accidental fall" at a pub in the Welsh town of Barry on March 7 and never recovered.

He was part of the Cardiff side that won the Championship in 2013, helping the Bluebirds return to top flight football for the first time since 1962.

He also played in a pair of cup finals for the South Wales club - losing to Portsmouth at Wembley in the 2008 FA Cup final, and in the 2012 League Cup final defeat to Liverpool.

A former England U21 international, Whittingham also played for Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers, where he finished his career in 2018.

A Cardiff City statement reads:

We are heartbroken.

The news of Peter’s sudden and untimely passing has shaken us to our very foundation. Our love goes out to his wife Amanda, their young son and family. They are at the forefront of our thoughts and, on their behalf, we ask for their privacy to be respected at this unfathomably cruel and difficult time.

First and foremost, Peter was a family man - and somebody who could light up a room with his sense of humour, warmth and personality. Then, as a professional footballer - as a Bluebird - he excelled with talent, ease, grace and humility. Nobody did it better.

The loss of Peter will be painfully felt by our city, supporters and indeed all who ever had the pleasure of knowing him. We love you Pete and your memory will eternally stay with us.