Tributes have been paid to a devoted father who worked tirelessly in his spare time as chairman of a youth football club.

Paul Scrutton, 44, of Cyril Child Close, Greenstead, was killed while carrying out motorway maintenance work on the A14 in Suffolk.

Mr Scrutton, a dedicated volunteer for the St Edmund's Hall Football Club, leaves a wife Violet and three children Katy, 24, Kevin, 21 and Paul, 19.

Son Paul said the family had been devastated by the loss of a devoted father.

He said: "He was always there for us. When I was 15, I had a kidney transplant and was in Great Ormond Street Hospital in London for a month. He came up to see me every day from Colchester.

"My mum also had a kidney transplant and he always supported her. He was just a brilliant dad and we will all miss him. It happened so quickly we are all in shock."

The St Edmund's Hall Football Club was started in 1990 to keep young people off the streets on the Greenstead estate.

Mr Scrutton became secretary when his youngest son joined the team in 1990. After Paul left, he continued his allegiance to the team and took on the role of chairman in 1993.

This year the under-14s team he was devoted to had just made it into a higher league after a successful season. Barry Wilson, secretary of the club, said the parents and children from the club were devastated.

He said: "He did so much for the club and the young people. Everyone is shocked by what has happened.

"The parents and children of the club will all miss him enormously as a friend and as chairman. What was so important was that he carried on after Paul junior left. He loved the club so much. He was devoted to improving the conditions for young people.

"He was a wonderful father who doted on his children. He will be missed by all who knew him."

The funeral takes place tomorrow (Thursday) at Colchester Crematorium.

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