WITNEY Rugby Club paid tribute to former player Dave Lambourne with a minute's silence before Saturday's first team match against Wallingford.

Players from both sides lined up in memory of Mr Lambourne, 43, who died following a motorbike crash in Curbridge on February 3.

Dave Wicks, Witney's club steward and good friend of Mr Lambourne, said: "He wasn't a big player, but he gave it his all.

"He always used to come up the fireworks tunnel to light the bonfire with me. He loved doing it and said 'As long as you are in front of me, I'll be okay'.

"He always said I wish I could have played rugby earlier, I didn't realise it was such a good game"

A note in the match programme described the father-of-four as "a regular at the club and always ready for some banter with a wicked sense of humour.

"He will be missed by all of us lucky enough to call him a mate."

It added: "He didn't play too many matches, but was pretty quick and was always the non-player in Mark Godfrey's Landscaping VII in the end of season tournament."