Moss Vale High School principal Patricia Holmes said the entire school community was struggling to come to terms with news of his passing and planned to hold a memorial for him at the school later in the week.

The much-loved 26-year-old maths teacher died after collapsing at Thirroul’s Thomas Gibson Park on Saturday while playing soccer for Thirroul Thunder.

Mrs Holmes said Mr Stott had earned his teaching degree in the UK before coming to Australia. He began working at Moss Vale High School in 2015 on a temporary basis.

“He was outstanding and straight away the students took to him and saw him as an outstanding teacher who they could identify with,” Mrs Holmes said.

At the start of 2016 he was appointed to the school as a permanent teacher following the merit selection process.

“Everybody was overjoyed that he was the successful candidate. He was a very gentle, caring guy and was highly regarded by all staff and students.

“We have just been devastated by the shocking news of his sudden death and the Moss Vale High School community offers our sincerest condolences to Antony’s brother Kevin, his parents and extended family and friends. He will be sadly missed.”

Mrs Holmes said Mr Stott had become very involved in the Southern Highlands school community, coaching the school soccer team and teaching maths classes in every year group from Year 7 through to Year 12.

“We have HSC students without their maths teacher now, leading up to their trials and HSC. He was a great guy that everybody loved. It is very, very sad.”

Mrs Holmes said a psychologist was available to staff on Monday and a larger team of counsellors would be available from Tuesday when students return for Term 3. 

Former student Chloe Price paid tribute to Mr Stott on social media saying his words of encouragement, advice and caring nature would never be forgotten.

“You were a fantastic teacher to me and the rest of year 12, as well as every other year.

“Your kind nature will never go unnoticed by everyone at Moss Vale High School and within the Highlands communities. R.I. P Mr Stott, you legend.”

Sorry for your loss. RIP Antony Kerry, Eastlake Berkeley

RIP Antony Anne Percy, Thirroul

Blessings to Antony and his family Kelly Small, 2570

Thinking of your family at this sad time and sending my heartfelt condolences. Angela, Kanahooka

RIP Antony Nadine, Coniston

Sending light and strength to your family. RIP Antony Roshan, Corrimal

Taken way too soon, RIP Antony. Condolences to family, friends & team mates. Kathy Gallagher, Dapto

Deepest sympathy to his family and friends. Diane, Windang

Rip taken way too early loving the game he loved. Tony, Figtree

Condolences to Antonys family, friends and team mates xxxxx RIP Antony Rits, Dapto

My heart aches for the family and friends. Tracey, Thirroul

How sad and tragic. Life taken way too early. Carmel, Wollongong

Wow , how sad, so young, rip mate Joe Perko, Lake Heights

Mr Scott thanks for being an awesome maths teacher you will be missed. Rip Joshua Truscott, miss vale

You will be missed dearly by all of us at miss vale high school and of course your family, fly high mr story, keep teaching up there doing what you love Shenae Murchie, Moss Vale

Deeply horrified someone passed on in the name of football.....Deep condolences to the family and thirroul club Dave Smolenaars, Wollongong

Taken way too soon playing the game we all love. Condolences to family Antony Stott...RIP Wests Illawarra FC, Unanderra

I always saw Mr Stott walking through the corridors at school and he always seemed like a really nice guy. He never taught me or anyone in my year, but we all knew who he was. I'm so sorry for this tragic loss and I send my deepest sympathies to the Stott family. India Wallbridge, Wollongong

You where the best Math teacher i ever had, you will be missed stotty Sascha Marold, Bundanoon

A sad day for thirroul thunder soccer club, a great fella will be missed greatly. Dean Gallagher, Corrimal

Sorry for your loss :( rest in peace Ash, Maroubra

Thoughts are with his family and friends. What a tragedy. Vashti, Figtree

Very sad RIP, condolences to Antony's family and friends Sue Stokes, Nowra

RIP Mr Stott Taken To Soon Jemma Grech, Bateau Bay

RIP mate, playing the game you loved. Condolences to the Family. Tony, Wollongong

Rip lost to young so sad for the ones he has left behind ❤️😢 Beryl Ramsay, Albion Park Rail

RIP Mr. Stott, you were an awesome teacher, we had many great conversations while I attended mossvale high. Fly high and dream the eternal dream Kerry Enright, Goulburn

RIP and deepest sympathy to your family and friends. Was my late husbands favourite team. Robyn, Kanahooka

Thank you for being an amazing math teacher to year 12, just like parsnips, you were always a treat. Year 12 veggie math will never be the same without your wonderful smile Moss Vale 'veggie' math 2577

So sad and may you rest in peace my thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and students Tanya, Illawarra

Mr Stott, an amazing teacher to me and all the students at moss vale high 😔 it was a pleasure having you at our school sir. you will forever be in our hearts 😣💛💛💛 Ella-rose Burke, moss came

A Condolences to the family at this sad time and may Antony rest in peace! So sad 😰 Amanda Hernandez, Shellharbour

Mr Stott. I only had you once or twice last year for Maths. You were the most amazing, coolest and the funniest teacher ever. You never gave up on us. It was such pleasure having you as a teacher. You will be missed by me and so many other people. Fly High Mr Stott💛😞 Arya Sigdel, Moss Vale, 2577

Thinkin of your family at this hard time , rip young man xx Natalie, Woonona

I'll miss seeing you at school, your words of encouragement, your advice and your caring nature will never be forgotten. You were a fantastic teacher to me and the rest of year 12 as well as every other year. Your kind nature will never go unnoticed by everyone at Moss Vale High School and within the Highlands communities. R.I. P Mr Stott, you legend 💞 Chloe, Price Moss Vale

Stotty was one the greatest guys I knew. An amazing teacher who was always willing to help and a mate who you could always have a good chat to. RIP legend. Nic Wilson, Robertson

Mr Stott, thanks for believing in me. I was lucky I had the pleasure of being in your class. Rest easy😔 Beth-Elise Cochran, Bundanoon

I feel for all that have lost a teacher, work mate,team mate friend and most important a brother and son ... R.I.P and guide everyone from above ... Debbie, Illawarra

Rip mate fly high Serina Stott, Bulli

Thinking of his family and friends Sharpen Williams, Unanderra

rip mr stott you were a great help to everone at mossy hight my thoughts are with your family and friends you are gone but never forgotten we will all miss you so much😢😭😭😭😯 Jessica Roberts, Moss Vale

One of my all time favourite teachers. He brought such joy to our class his witty sense of humour and total passion for maths. He truly believed in us all and helped where he could. Defiantly gone too soon. Fly high Stotty boy! Isabella Disher, Moss Vale

R.I.P taken too soon playing the game he loved condolences to his family and friends Glenn Rivera, Hervey Bay

This is so sad, I heard about this and was shocked. I didn't know you personally, but I'm a teacher and I'm also a footballer - and it's a horrible thing for someone so young - rest in peace. You were obviously well-loved. Matt Walsh, Mount Ousley

RIP. The most patient and amazing maths teacher since the start of year 8. You will be missed. Tess Fraser, Moss Vale

You may be gone but never forgotten. Fly high and dream the eternal dream. My sympathies to the Stott family. You will be missed Mr Stott 😰😭 Tamara Wilson, Moss Vale

Mr Stott, you were and always will be a teacher. Will be missed, and never forgotten ❤️💞😭😭 Melissa, Bowral

r.i.p. young man far to young to go Wendy Ryan, Basin View

Thank you for all these wonderful messages, they are appreciated so much by us all. Antony was my boyfriend of nearly 5 years and was the most wonderfully kind and special person. He brought so much happiness and love to all around him. Thank you again. Laura Leicester, England

Rest in peace, dream the eternal dream Kezzie 2577

General maths won't be the same without you sir...thanks for everything you had taught me Shania Martin, Moss Vale High School

Always enjoyed chatting with you at training and before and after our games mate, can't believe you're gone, it's surreal and so sad, a great lad taken way too early. RIP mate. Ged, Bulli

The Coasters would like to extend their deepest condolences to the club and family of Anthony. We've all been shaken by the news and he will remain in our thoughts and prayers. Coasters FC

Gone too soon. Shell, Dapto

My husband and I have held you, your family and friends in our thoughts since we heard. We promise you will never ever be forgotten. My husband went into cardiac arrest 4 weeks ago to the day also while playing soccer...we have vowed to do all we can to raise awareness for the need of AEDs. Sending all our love. Tammy, Central Coast

The Albion Park Cows FC extends its deepest sympathy to the family, friends and the Thirroul Thunder Team for the very sad loss of Antony. Albion Park Cows FC, Albion Park

Antony, rest easy up there mate. So shocked to read this take care mate, my deepest sympathy to Kev, Mr and Mrs stott xx Nick Best, Bowral

Mr Scott and had our ups and down but he was really good teacher who would listen to you you will always be missed a formal student for moss vale high Kiyla, Roberson 

I wish I had've taken the time to thank you in person for all you taught me. You're by far one of the the best teachers I've had and I always looked forward to your class. You will be missed Stotty, sending love to your family and close ones who no doubt are in extreme mourning. Sharon, Moss Vale High School

R.i.p another young man taken too soon. Thoughts are with ur family Amy, Campbelltown

The Illawarra Stallions sends its deepest sympathies the family. May God give bring them the peace that they seek. Illawarra Stallions, Cringila

Mr Stott, you were a great caring young talented man, you still had your life ahead of you. You were a great teacher not only to me but to the rest of the students you taught. R.I.P Mr Stott, you will be dearly missed but never forgotten. Melissa Lavender, Moss Vale

Goodbye Mr Stott, you will be missed... R.I.P Ethan, Bundanoon

Best math teacher ever!💖😭 Rip stotty Lorna Anderson, Moss Vale

RIP Antony sending my condolences to his family n friends here and England now fly high just shows how short life can be rip Sam, Bundanoon 

Thoughts go out to Antony's friends and family as well as our friends at Thirroul Thunder IFS United Wollongong

This still doesn't feel real to me but you were one of the only teachers that tried to help me. Our math class was probably not the best but we still had some good times and some good laughs with you. R.I.P stotty you will be missed mate and I will return your calculators 💖💖💖💖💖 Zac Keith, Bundanoon 

Very sad and shocked to here of Stotty's passing. It was a pleasure to have him as part of our team for the summer. As a new player who did not know anybody, he blended in exceptionally well and became a key player in our team. He was a good, fair and enjoyable person to play with – he will be missed. Condolences to his family and friends. RED DEVILS Summer Soccer, Team Moss Vale

We will all miss you heaps from moss vale high school you were a outstanding teacher who knew what he was doing and was fun and hilarious the school is never going to be the same Lachlan Smith, Moss Vale

fly high angel, helensburg

Hard for our boys to understand, so young a cool teacher and playing the game that they love. But our thoughts are with your family and friends during this deeply sad time Jenny Cubit, Bundanoon

To me, Stotty, you were more than just an amazing maths teacher and football player, to me you were a friend, a person I trusted and knew I could go to if I needed help. You were also my biggest inspiration, and the only person who kept me going maths wise when all I wanted to do was curl into a ball and cry because I didn't understand. I have so many things to thank you for, and I wish I'd said them all earlier, but no one knows the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory... It’s too late now and I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not thanking you earlier, and I'm sorry I wasn't the greatest student. I'm going to miss you, your accent, your smile, your fake hatred at Hugh every lesson... I'm going to miss all of you. I wish it hadn't been you, you were too young to die. But it was you and it hurts... But I'll get through it, we all will. We'll probably never get a teacher as amazing as you, but who knows, maybe one day we'll all make you so, so proud. Thoughts, prayers and love go out to all friends and family. Rest in peace, Sir Mackenzie, Canyonleigh

Mr Stott was a wonderful teacher but no one will forget the amazing Antony Stott Amanda, Bundanoon