Tributes stream in for 'fantastic character' Phil

FRIENDS have paid tribute to Phil Hooper, who died on Sunday. He was found at the side of Fort Road, St Peter Port, in the early hours of the morning. Police are still investigating how he came to be there.

The popular 16-year-old was Vale Rec's Youth One team captain and player of the year last season. By the end of the campaign, he had broken into the Priaulx side.

Youth coach Tony Clarkson worked with Phil for the past seven years as he came up through the ranks.

'Obviously he's going to be greatly missed as a player and a character all around. I loved the guy and he was extremely popular with all the other lads as well,' he said.

'Football was a big part of it, but generally I saw him out as well. We just loved the guy to bits.'

Mr Clarkson said it would feel strange to go to training without the central midfielder there.

'He was always at the centre of everything; if there was mickey taking out of me, he'd be at heart of it,' he said. 'When he wasn't there, everyone missed him; he was the life and soul of the team.

'I enjoyed working with him, a great player and fantastic character as well. I'm sure Phil would want all the lads to carry on as normally as they can into the season.'

Vale Rec president Tony Blondel said it was with great sadness that he heard the news.

'All the committee and players share the sorrow of the family. He was a bubbly, lively and likeable character and, as you can tell, I'm deeply upset. We're certainly going to miss him - he was a smashing lad.'

Phil's family is also deeply involved in the club; his mum runs the canteen, brothers David and Adam play for Vale Rec while uncle Phil Mahy used to be president and is still a committee member.

Phil attended St Sampson's Secondary School, where younger brother David is in Year 8, and left last July after completing his GCSEs. When he left, Phil wanted to join the Army.

'He was a happy-go-lucky and cheerful young man; I used the word sparky in assembly this morning,' said the school's head teacher, Hazel Tetlaw.

'He was irrepressible and didn't hold a grudge.'

Miss Tetlaw said that as well as being talented at football, he was also good at drama.

'He was strongminded and very popular with his peers. Our thoughts are very much with his mum, dad, Adam and especially David,' she said.

'We are very saddened and shocked and inevitably people are asking the question why these things have to happen.'

Heidi Sheppard, 17, a friend and fellow pupil at St Sampson's, went to the scene of the tragedy yesterday lunchtime.

'He was lovely - he was a great guy with a great sense of humour. It is wrong - it's unreal and should not have happened,' she said, adding that she was not especially close to him but had known him for a while.

'He was outrageously funny and he had a cheeky grin,' she said.

'You will never get another Phil.'

Dozens of bouquets and messages have been left at the scene of his death at Fort Road.

One read: 'Phil rest in peace chick. You'll be missed so much. You meant a lot to so many.'

Another, which had a picture of Phil as a youngster on a bicycle, said: 'Miss you, Phil. I'll never forget your cheeky sense of humour.'

Another message read: 'You made everyone laugh so much and did the best impressions ever. Everyone's gonna miss you.'