AARON Gardiner's fellow footballer Lee Norfolk today shared his memories with mourners of the best friend he will never see again.Mr Norfolk, 28, was to be best man at Mr Gardiner's wedding and was treating his responsibility today at the 33-year-old's funeral with a similar diligence and honour.

AARON Gardiner's fellow footballer Lee Norfolk today shared his memories with mourners of the best friend he will never see again.

Mr Norfolk, 28, was to be best man at Mr Gardiner's wedding and was treating his responsibility today at the 33-year-old's funeral with a similar diligence and honour.

The former Ipswich Town footballer said: "I want to do this so badly and I don't want to get half way through and not be able to continue. I might choke up but I will make sure I finish it.

"It is a real privilege to be asked to do this by the family."

The pair had been friends for the past seven years working together at delivery service Business Express where Mr Gardiner became a manager.

They both played for AFC Sudbury where they became close friends and Mr Norfolk was expecting to spend much of his address talking about Mr Gardiner's football career.

Mr Norfolk said: "The main thing is the fun we had. He had a real sense of humour and was always clowning around and playing practical jokes. I have to make the address funny because that is the sort of lad Aaron was. There are so many memories.

"He was a great dad and a loving fiancé. Jo is lost and I am lost. I used to speak to him a couple of times a day if I didn't see him.

"A big chunk has been taken out of quite a few people's lives not just my own.

"The humour he used to bring to people will be sorely missed – he was amazing. He was 33 but acted more like he was 13. He was absolutely hilarious."