Hythe Town’s players and management are still coming to terms with the tragic death of striker Henry Fulcher.

The 18-year-old lost his life last Tuesday when he crashed into a tree while driving along Appledore Road in Tenterden.

Fulcher’s death came four days before the start of what was set to be his breakthrough season with Hythe’s first-team.

Assistant manager Darren Beale said: "I was devastated. I got a phone call from one of the younger lads because Henry wasn’t at training on Tuesday night.

"I was concerned that he hadn’t showed and we then found out the reason why.

"We’ve got quite a young side and everyone was devastated. We had a meeting on Thursday and the players decided how they wanted to remember him."

A minute’s silence was observed last night (Tuesday) when Hythe played Herne Bay at Reachfields, with Fulcher’s under-18 team-mates also at the ground to pay their respects.

Beale said: "He was such a nice young lad and was one of those who made it into the first team last season.

"I remember ringing him to see if he could make the Guernsey trip because we had a couple of late injuries.

"He was on the golf course when I asked him and he dropped everything.

"That’s the type of person he was. He just loved his football and being involved with the first team. He was a very quiet lad but he had lots of ability and always applied himself at training.

"Henry had a great attitude and he was someone we were looking forward to working with on a more permanent basis with the first team."

Read the full story in the Folkestone & Hythe Express.