Tributes to young footballer
TRIBUTES have been paid to a young footballer who was tragically killed when the van he was driving was involved in a head-on collision with an articulated lorry.
TRIBUTES have been paid to a young footballer who was tragically killed when the van he was driving was involved in a head-on collision with an articulated lorry.
Ipswich Town fan James Rudling, 20, of Mill Gardens, Elmswell, near Bury St Edmunds, died in the crash on the A11 at Attleborough, in Norfolk, on Friday .
The regular goalkeeper for the Elmswell Taverners reserve football team was driving a Vauxhall Astra van when the accident happened and his death has sent shock waves through the village.
Chris Marchant, landlord of the Railway Tavern, where Mr Rudling was a regular and played in the pool team as well as the football team, said: "It was a real shock.
"He was a really lovely boy who didn't have a bad bone in his body. Everybody liked him – that is what's so bad about it.
"He never drank or swore or smoked – it is a big loss."
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A ceramic tiler by trade, Mr Rudling is believed to have been travelling to a job in Norfolk when the accident happened, just before 7am.
The driver of the Volvo lorry, a 34-year-old man from Great Yarmouth, was not injured in the crash.
"He will be very sadly missed by everyone," Mr Marchant added.
Norfolk police are appealing for anyone with any information about the incident to contact Pc Andrew Wood on 01953 424242.
