FOOTBALL fans have paid their final respects to a young player who was killed in a car accident last week.

Many wore the purple colours of Shildon Football Club at the funeral of defender Lee Hainsworth at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Norton Road, Stockton.

Some of the 26-year-old's team-mates acted as pall bearers at the hour-long service yesterday morning, at which more than 100 mourners attended.

Mr Hainsworth was a key member of the Shildon side that played Notts County in a David and Goliath FA Cup tie in November.

Manager Ray Gowan spoke of a great young man who was dedicated to his team.

He said: "There are no words to describe the great loss that we have all suffered, and it is a great testament to the memory of Lee to see how many people are here today.

"When we signed Lee, we were struggling and I really believed that he was the mainstay in the successes that we have achieved since that time.

"I was so pleased that he was able to share and play such a major part in our successes earlier this season. He will always be remembered for his contribution in our FA Cup run."

Mr Gowan spoke of the many moving tributes that had been left on the Shildon Football Club website and said that he and the club had been moved by the comments left by Notts County fans.

He said: "It is a testimony to Lee if you look on the club website and see how many people have taken the time and trouble to post a message in Lee's memory.

"It is not just Shildon Football Club, it is not just the Northern League, it is the football world in general."

Mr Hainsworth had been parked in a lay-by in Thorpe Larches, near Stockton, talking to his girlfriend on his mobile phone when he was involved in a collision with a VW Passat car. He had been on his way to training at Shildon's Dean Street ground.

His girlfriend called the emergency services and Mr Hainsworth had to be cut free from his VW Golf car.

He was pronounced dead at the University of North Tees Hospital shortly after the accident, which took place at 7.30pm on February 23.

The 31-year-old female Passat driver, from Cramlington, Northumberland, suffered cuts, bruises and whiplash injuries.

* The Northern Echo attend the funeral with the permission of Mr Hainsworth's family.