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A MEMORIAL will be held this weekend for a footballer who tragically died doing what he loved.

Former Twin City Lions AFL player John Van Der Linden had just finished footy training on Monday night when he died from a sudden heart attack.

Despite the best efforts of teammates, the 44-year-old man could not be revived.

The former soldier had been participating in his first training session with the Hermit Park Tigers after his own club was disbanded.

Hermit Park Tigers president Barry Gibson said the footballer's death had come as a complete shock.

"He was training and at the end of training everyone was doing their cool-downs," he said.

"He said he felt a little off, then took a drink and suddenly collapsed.

"We were fortunate that we had a military medic as a team member and he, along with two others, administered CPR until the ambulance arrived."

Best friend of 10 years, Kylie Goodacre, met the British Aerospace electrician through their mutual love of the Twin City Lions club. He was one of their founding members.

"He loved his footy – his brother told me he'd been playing since he was four years old," she said.

"I would say he's played for every football club in Townsville at one time or another except for probably two.

"He's known by everyone involved in AFL. The last time I saw him was when he came over Saturday and said he was going to a training session on Monday.

"He was a really fit guy.

"For the last six years he's been saying `I'm not playing any more, I'm too old' but he always ended up back on the field."

Ms Goodacre said the father of one had lived in North Queensland for the past 25 years.

"John was a well liked and loved man by many friends throughout the entire North Queensland district," she said.

"He was a great friend who I will truly miss."

Former Twin City Lions president Wal Turner said the club held a mini-memorial service at one of the ex-committee member's home on Tuesday night and a huge amount of people turned up.

"It was just a get together of his friends, but by God he had a lot of friends – all from the footy world – but there were a lot of people there," he said.

A memorial to remember John will be held at the Tigers' ground at Neil French Oval today at 2.30pm.