MUCH-loved footballer, warehouse manager and family man Stephen 'Milo' Miles died after a short illness on March 8, aged 58.

Mr Miles was born in Lytchett Minster in 1957, and attended St Mary's School before securing a place at Poole Grammar School.

A lifelong sportsman, he played football and ran for the school and the county.

His career started at Metal Box in Poole at the age of 16, working in transport distribution, and he remained at the company for two decades rising to a management role.

During his time there the firm was taken over first by David Thomas and Son Ltd of Wales and later by national haulage firm Eddie Stobart.

Mr Miles then, around ten years ago, moved on to work as the warehouse manager at the Poole factory of cosmetics company Lush. There he was widely respected by colleagues, who knew him as 'Milo' and the 'Lush Legend'.

A talented left back, who played well with both feet, Mr Miles had trials for both Bournemouth and Southampton football clubs in his youth.

He went on to play for Wimborne Town, Flights Refuelling and eventually Poole Town, where he played for several years.

After retiring due to a knee injury he trained as a physio and continued to work with his team.

He was an active member of Oakdale Boys Club where he played and coached their youth teams, also organising events including a marathon 48 hour indoor football competition, and he was associated with Canford Poole Football.

Mr Miles also loved snooker and played at Oakdale Conservative Club, which was where he met his wife Suzanne working behind the bar. Their first date was a trip to watch him play football.

Their daughter Georgia was born in 1996.

He loved soul music and Motown, and alongside his large group of friends, many from when he was growing up and his school days at Poole Grammar, he attended soul events around the town and even hosted them in the family dining room.

Poole Town honoured him with a minute's applause at their Bideford game on March 14, while his former employer Lush has produced a new product in his name - a 'toothy tabs' toothpaste named 'Miles of Smiles'.

Hundreds of people turned out for his funeral at St George's Church, Oakdale, on March 30.

Mr Miles will be remembered as a calm, caring and considerate man who always had time for his friends and work colleagues.

His family have expressed their gratitude to all those who have sent kind messages and who attended the funeral.