CHERRIES fans were on their feet at the Vitality Stadium this afternoon as a minute's applause was held in memory of one of the club's “most dedicated” supporters.

Paul Willis passed away aged 40 after being diagnosed with liver cancer in December.

He was known to friends and fellow fans as ‘44’ after his favourite number.

As soon as the clock ticked onto 44 minutes during the Premier League fixture against Burnley the Vitality Stadium rose as one for a minute's applause to commemorate him.

Paul Willis’s image, fittingly showing him bedecked in Cherries’ shirts and scarves, adorned the big screen in one corner of the ground.

The applause from both sets of supporters was thunderous. Likewise, boss Eddie Howe and assistant Jason Tindall clapped throughout the minute, despite the fact the ball was still in play the entire time.

Even goalkeeper Artur Boruc put his hands together for one of Cherries’ most ardent fans.

It was a fitting tribute from Willis’s extended family and the club he loved.

Tributes have poured in since his death with Cherries legend Steve Fletcher and boss Eddie Howe describing Paul as “part of the AFC Bournemouth family” and “someone who was always there”.

His mother, Christine Dykes, said she was “incredibly proud” of him.

“The great passion of his life was AFC Bournemouth. He discovered them through my nephew in 1999 who took him to his first ever football match.

“No woman could ever compete with AFC Bournemouth. He attended all the matches, and all the football strips he owned had the number 44 on them. He loved the shape of the number four, ever since he was five years old.

“He achieved so much considering he had Asperger’s. He worked for Hallways office furniture for 20 years,” she continued.

“As his mum, I knew a different side to him than the football one, and I loved him and was incredibly proud of him – I still am.

“To know he was liked and valued is very moving.”

Manager Eddie Howe also paid tribute to Paul.

He said: “It is incredibly sad news. I have great memories of him.

“When we pulled up on a coach, whether I was playing or managing, he would usually be the first person I would see, in his various Bournemouth shirts.

“He was a really visible figure and someone who was always there.

“Some of the distances he must have travelled to watch us, the commitment to do that, the money involved, we can’t thank him enough for all that support.”

Meanwhile Cherries legend Steve Fletcher said the club had “lost a superstar”.

“He was a fan for as long as I can remember. He was always supporting us and always wore a minimum of eight football shirts to matches.

“He was a very positive, colourful character and one of the most dedicated fans of the club. He was like a part of the AFC Bournemouth family.”

Paul’s fellow Cherries fans have also paid tribute to the man who was at games “in the wind, rain and sunshine”.

Daniella Bull, on behalf of the group AFC Bournemouth Fans Help One Another Out, said: “AFC Bournemouth fans are a very close group of fans so even if you didn’t know Paul personally, you knew of him. He was at home and away games every week without fail – even back in League Two days.

“Myself and all of AFC Bournemouth’s fans, of all ages, will miss Paul and, no doubt, he will always be Cherry through and through.”