Tributes pour in following tragic death of Hythe Town footballer Henry Fulcher, 18

TRIBUTES have been pouring in for Hythe Town footballer Henry Fulcher, 18, who has tragically died following a road accident last night.

It has been reported that the New Romney based teenager was killed yesterday when he lost control of his white Vauxhall Corsa and came off Appledore Road at around 6:25pm, hitting a tree.  Emergency services attended but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Fulcher played for Roy Guiver’s under 18 side last season and featured for the first team, scoring a penalty in their 5-1 home win over Maidstone United on 29 July 2015.

Maidstone United’s assistant manager, Nicky Southall, who coached Fulcher for Maidstone based Soccer Elite, broke the sad news on his Twitter account.

He posted: “Worst day every today, one of my scholars died in a car accident on Tuesday night – RIP Henry.  #SEFA family all send our condolences.

“So sad that one of my players at Soccer Elite has lost his life. Such a bright future. Devastating news.”

A statement from Hythe Town said: “All of us at Hythe Town FC are devastated at the news of the tragic death of Henry Fulcher in a road accident on Tuesday evening.

“Henry was one of the nicest people you could meet and had the potential to go all the way to the top and we at Hythe had high expectations of him in what would have been his first full season at senior level.

“Our thoughts go out to his family and friends losing someone so close to them at such a tender age.”

Guiver, who has signed on as a player for Kent Invicta League side Sheppey United, paid his own tribute.

He said: “Henry Fulcher was in my under 18s Hythe team last year and he was such a talent and such a nice lad. He would have most definitely made it at a good level.”

The tragic news follows the news of Junior Dian, 24, who tragically lost his life while playing for Tonbridge Angels in a pre-season friendly at Whyteleafe on 7 July 2015.

FC Elmstead manager Danny Wakeling said his club will have a collection for the Ilford based family at their debut Kent Invicta League game against Orpington at Oakley Road in Bromley on Friday night.

Naturally, www.kentishfootball.co.uk would like to offer our sincere condolences to the Fulcher family and his friends during this sad time.

Visit Hythe Town’s website: www.hythetownfc.co.uk