TRIBUTES have been pouring in from the local non-league community following the tragic death of Shrivenham manager Dave Turner yesterday.

Turner, who has also managed Wootton Bassett Town and Pewsey Vale in the region, passed away as a result of a heart attack at around 12.30am on Tuesday.

The popular 52-year-old is survived by his wife Trisha and sons Alex, 24, and James, 22, and heartfelt messages of support for the Turner family have flooded into the Advertiser offices.

Swindon Supermarine manager Dave Webb said: “The majority of people Dave touched - in life or through sport - would say he was a real nice guy and he’ll be very sadly missed.

“Everyone associated with my current club, Swindon Supermarine, has their thoughts with the people closest to him. I can’t imagine what they’re going through.

“In all the dealings I’ve had with Dave he’s been a pleasure to deal with. He’s a great gentleman, a lovely man, he believed in doing things properly. He had his way of doing things and always believed he did things the right way.”

Webb hopes that Marine will honour Turner ahead of their Southern League Division One South & West clash with Guildford at the Webb’s Wood Stadium this evening.

Meanwhile, one of Turner’s biggest rivals in non-league football, Highworth Town boss John Fisher, also paid his respects.

He said: “It’s a terible shock. I had a lot of time for what he was attempted to do and he was doing a good job at Shrivenham, even though they were where they were in the league.

“I’ve watched them a few times in the last few weeks and they were going to turn the corner. His legacy at Shrivenham is he’s left them with a side that’s going places. I just wish his wife and his two boys all the best.”

New College manager Rob Hopkins was also saddened by the news, saying: “He was always forthright in his opinions, he would always say it as he saw it and you had to respect him for that.

“He was one of those people who would be 100 per cent honest in everything he saw.”

Paul Braithwaite, Fairford Town boss, credited Turner with easing him into his role at Cinder Lane.

He said: “You’d see he’d do whatever he could to get a result. Off the field he was always polite and very complimentary of things you try to do as a manager.

“As a bloke you couldn’t have a bad word about him.”

Swindon Town’s academy goalkeeping coach Steve Hale added: “Dave was a passionate football man who was also respectful and very well-organised and went about his business in the right way, treating people well along the way.

“Dave will be sadly missed by everybody he came into contact with.”