A YOUNG football star's life was tragically cut short by a horrific car crash in West Sussex.

Steve Bernard, 18, from Bournemouth, was one of three young people who lost their lives in the collision between the Nissan Micra Steve was driving and a Ford Focus on the A27 at East Hampnett, near Chichester, shortly before 9pm on Wednesday November 2.

Steve, from Pine Road in Winton, had just started studying at Chichester University, and was going to the cinema with university friends when the crash happened.

Two 19-year-old passengers in the Micra also died and two others were seriously injured, as was the driver of the Ford Focus, a 48-year-old man from Eastleigh. Steve's father, Tony Bernard, his mum Sue and his brother Jack, 13, paid tribute to him.

"He was a wonderful lad," said Tony.

"I don't think he had any enemies in the whole world. Everyone seemed to really love him. He had so much promise.

"He was going to become a PE teacher."

Pete Moore, Steve's manager at Christchurch last season and now Bournemouth Poppies manager, said the teenager was "a great talent and a really nice guy".

"It was a massive shock for everyone when they heard. Everyone at Bournemouth Poppies would like to pass on their condolences to his family."

Mr Moore added: "We will be holding a minute's silence at our game with St Peter's on Saturday in his memory."

Steve, who had played for Christchurch FC since he was 16, won the club's young player of the year award two seasons ago and was also the most improved player last year.

He had been playing semi-pro for Chichester FC.

Mick Ryan, director of football for Christchurch FC, said: "He had everything ahead of him and there was nobody who didn't like him."

First published: November 4, 2005