TRIBUTES have been paid to young footballer Ben Pinkham, a former Tavistock player who died following an industrial explosion last week.
Robin Fenner, chairman of Tavistock Football Club described 21-year-old Ben as a ?delightful young man?.
?He made the first team at 18 years of age. To play in a major league cup final was an achievement; many talented players fail to do that in a lifetime,? said Robin.
?He made a contribution not just to the team, but to the club. This accident has taken a great talent, but also a loving son from his family,? he said.
Robin said it was typical of Ben that his last thoughts were of his girlfriend and his mother and father.
Robin said Ben was a young man who got on with all his team-mates and ?enjoyed life to the full?.
?There are always one or two players that really stand out, and Ben was one of those, he was known to everyone at the club.
?I always had the feeling had someone got hold of him at a very young age, he would have carved out a great career in football,? said Robin.
The highlight of Ben?s footballing career was playing in the South Western League cup final for Tavistock three years ago against St Blazey at Torpoint, which unfortunately the Lambs lost 2-1.
Ben, from Saltash, returned to play for his home town team last season.
He was rushed to hospital after an industrial explosion at Princess Yachts International in Plymouth last week. He died last Saturday from injuries sustained in the accident.