FORMER Chelsea left-back and Lymington resident Dave Stride has died at the age of 58.

Stride, who made a brief return to football when he was appointed manager of Bashley for 40 days last season, passed away suddenly on Monday.

He joined Chelsea as an apprentice and signed professional forms in January 1976, by which time he had been converted from a left winger into a full-back.

From there, he captained the reserves at Stamford Bridge and following a spell on loan in America with Memphis Rogues, established himself in the first team.

After 37 appearances, he suffered a hairline fracture of the skull and returned to Memphis on a permanent basis in November 1979.

He forged a reputation as a hard man in the US and was nicknamed ‘The Enforcer’ as an indoor player for the Dallas Sidekicks, where he lifted the Major Indoor Soccer League in 1987.

During the 1980s, he also played for Millwall and Leyton Orient and later co-managed Lymington Town in the Hampshire League alongside John Pyatt, who has since returned to the club.