THE FATHER of a talented Hampshire soccer player killed in a horrific road crash has paid an emotional tribute to his teenage son.

Chris Garner, 13, died after suffering massive head injuries when his bike was in collision with a car in Woodmill Lane in Bitterne Park last Thursday.

Yesterday should have been Chris's first match with his new team Testwood United.

In a poignant move, his father Dave and brother Steve joined the young footballers in a minute's silence on the pitch at Hunt's Farm.

Donning black armbands, the team stood with their head bowed as they remembered the popular youngster. Steve wore the kit that his brother would have been wearing.

Bitterne Park schoolboy Chris, from Cornwall Crescent, had been cycling home after watching Steve play football when the accident happened at 5.10pm. He was rushed to Southampton General Hospital but died less than an hour later.

Mr Garner was too upset to speak after the tribute.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Chris's uncle Clive Garner, 40, of Oak Tree Road, Bitterne Park, said: "It would have been Chris's first game. It was just something Dave had to do."

Manager of Testwood United Clive Mellin said the team had cancelled their training last Friday as a mark of respect to Chris but the players had wanted to play yesterday's match against Oakwood.

He said: "We spoke to the boys and they wanted to play as a mark of respect to Chris. Many of the boys went to school with him. It is very brave of Steve and his dad to come to the match."

Chris's former club BTC Solent also cancelled their scheduled match. The Sky Blues, who Chris had also played for, held a minute's silence before their Under-13s Tyro League match against Sarisbury Sparks.

Police are investigating the accident involving a Renault Laguna driven by a 52-year-old woman from Bitterne Park.