“THERE was a never a bad memory with Callum.”

That was the touching tribute from friends of a teenage car crash victim who filled a Carterton church for his funeral yesterday.

About 400 friends and family of Callum MacKinnon, of Pinecroft, gathered to pay their last respects to the talented footballer.

Friends wore football shirts, mainly a mix of the two teams closest to Mr MacKinnon’s heart – Manchester United and Witney United.

Mourners lined Burford Road as the black hearse made its way to St John the Evangelist Church.

A red and white football made of flowers rested on top of the coffin.

Family members followed the hearse on foot, as bagpipes played.

The service, in front of a packed church, was led by the Rev Bill Blakey.

Sam Wright, 18, one of Mr MacKinnon’s best friends, wore a Manchester United football shirt.

He said: “I played football with him at Witney United, I worked with him and we went on nights out together.

“He was a top lad loved by many. This just shows how many people cared for him.”

Friends Chris Zoldan, George Reynolds and Kieran Williams, all 18, said: “There never was a bad memory with Callum.

“He loved his football and girls, fast food and the kebab house.”

Piper Jim Pearson, who plays with the Oxford Caledonian Pipes and Drums, said: “I’ve never played at a funeral with so many people.”

Mr MacKinnon was the back seat passenger in a Citroën C3 when it crashed into a tree on the B4020 Shilton Road, between Burford and Carterton, at about 5.30pm on Tuesday last week.

The former Carterton Community College pupil had played with Witney United’s under-18s team for the past three years.

He was studying for a diploma in sport at Oxford and Cherwell Valley College and worked at Burford Garden Company.

He recently returned to Carterton Community College to help with PE lessons.

Tonight, at 7.30pm, about 1,000 people are expected at a memorial match at Witney United’s ground in Downs Road.

Admission costs £3 and the proceeds will be donated to Mr MacKinnon’s family.

Tomorrow, on what would have been Callum’s 19th birthday, friends and family will gather at The Aviator pub, in Black Bourton Road, Carterton, to celebrate his life.

Mr MacKinnon had taken part in his first match with Cirencester Town development side on Saturday, September 4. He was due to attend a training session at Cirencester just an hour after he died.

Assistant coach Andy James said the young footballer had everything going for him.