FORMER league football player and ex-Bashley manager, Dave Roy Stride of Lymington, has died at the age of 58.

Born in Lymington, Dave joined Chelsea as an an apprentice and signed forms to turn professional in January 1976, where he captained the reserves team.

He then went overseas to join the North American Soccer League side Memphis Rogues in Tennessee for around two years, managed by Eddie McCreadie, on loan.

He returned to London to join his Chelsea colleagues in the first team early in the 1978/79 campaign, making 33 appearances although the team were relegated from the old First Division.

He went on to play three more times in the following season with his final game featuring a victory over Bristol Rovers at Stamford Bridge in October 1979.

Dave was injured by a hairline fracture of the skull, but continued to pursue a career in football and transferred to Memphis Rogues a month later for £90,000, having made a total of 37 appearances for Chelsea.

While in the US he received the nickname as 'The Enforcer' as an indoor player for the Dallas Sidekicks, where he would lift the Major Indoor Soccer League trophy in 1987.

On his return to England, he played for Millwall in the early 1980s followed by Leyton Orient.

In 1985, he headed back to the United States to play for the Dallas Sidekicks in the Major Indoor Soccer League.

In more recent years, he played for Chelsea's Old Boys teams alongside some of his former teammates.

He also co-managed Lymington Town alongside John Pyatt when the club competed in the Hampshire League.

In a statement on Lymington Town Football Club's Facebook page, it reads: "All at Lymington Town Football Club are saddened to hear of the untimely death of former manager and player, Dave Stride. Dave was much loved by many at the club.

"He will always be remembered fondly at Lymington for his knowledge of the game and a great sense of humour."

In June last year, he made the Daily Echo and national headlines after being controversially sacked from Bashley following 40 days in charge assisted by his brother, Glen, who is an ex-Cherries player.

Dave also ran a pub in his hometown of Lymington.

He died on Sunday, July 10 and his funeral took place at St Mark's Church in Lymington on Tuesday, July 26.