TOUCHING tributes have poured in for a much-loved former Salisbury City footballer who died of a brain tumour, aged 60.

Dave Syrett lost his battle last Tuesday at his family home and leaves behind his wife Yvonne, four daughters and three grandchildren.

Salisbury-born Dave, who attended Bemerton St John Primary School and Gillingham Comprehensive, began his promising football career as a striker with Swindon Town in the 1970s.

In 1977, he signed for Mansfield Town where he spent a year before joining the likes of Walsall, Peterborough United and Northampton Town.

But his career was cut short in 1983 at the age of 27 when he suffered a spinal injury.

Six years later, Syrett was persuaded to come out of retirement by Salisbury manager Geoff Butler.

It was there he donned a Whites shirt and scored three times in six games.

Following his football career, he worked as a milkman, a groundsman and sports teacher at Warminster School before moving to Chafyn Grove school in Salisbury as head groundsman.

He was diagnosed with the tumour just the day after completing the 2015 Race for Men in the city and this year went around the same course in a wheelchair accompanied by staff and former pupils who named themselves Team Syrett.

Daughter Kerry said: “He was a wonderful father, my sisters and I are so very, very lucky. An example and role model for us all, his strength and courage this past year is an inspiration. The determination he showed at the Race for Men in June when he walked the final stretch to the finish line is my absolute standout moment and testament to the person he was.

“We have received many cards over the past week and each one has echoed the same sentiment, that he was a true gentleman, a kind and loyal friend with a great sense of humour.

"Above all he was a very modest man, who would be extremely humbled by the touching tributes people have taken the time to share with us.”

On Twitter, photographer Denis Murphy said “Very sad to hear this. I played in the same Dorset schoolboys’ team as Dave in the 70s. RIP mate.”

PE teacher James Kaminski added: “The nicest man you could ever meet. An absolute legend. RIP Dave".

Dave was also a keen cricketer and played for Milford, Bowerchalke and Salisbury Nomads.

His funeral is on Friday at the Minster Church of St Denys, Warminster, at 11.30am.