Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has kicked off a £1.2m charity appeal in memory of the club's former goalkeeper Tim Carter.
The body of the ex-Black Cats player was discovered in bushes by a passer-by in Manchester on 24 June. Police said there were no suspicious circumstances.
The club is backing an appeal to build a hydrotherapy pool for use by two special schools in North Tyneside.
Mr Carter's son, who has cerebral palsy, attends one of the schools.
The pool, to be built by the Percy Hedley Foundation, will be named in the 40-year-old's honour.
Speaking before the launch Mr Quinn said: "Tim was a fantastic servant to Sunderland Football Club and more importantly a wonderful, gentle man who is missed by all of us every day.
"Tim was overwhelmed and humbled by the determination and achievements of the children and adults at Percy Hedley School"
"We are delighted to be able to give our backing to this appeal which will provide both a much-needed facility for the region and a lasting memory of a very special person."
The pool will be located at Percy Hedley Secondary School in Killingworth, which also boasts a sports academy.
Mr Carter's four-year-old son attends the nearby Percy Hedley Primary in Forest Hall.
His wife Gina said her husband had been impressed by the pupils at both sites.
She said: "Tim was overwhelmed and humbled by the determination and achievements of the children and adults at Percy Hedley.
"I'm sure it will make our children very proud that their daddy could make such a difference in the lives of people with special needs."
Mr Carter, who was Sunderland's academy goalkeeping coach, was reported missing from his home in Durham, hours before his body was found.
He played 50 games for the Premiership club between 1987 and 1992.
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