A POPULAR Southampton footballer died after he was hit by a train in a tragic accident, an inquest heard.

Ryan New, who was a pillar of Southampton’s footballing community, had been on a night out with friends when he was struck by a train at Bradford on Avon.

The inquest heard how the 32-year-old was described as being heavily intoxicated after a night of socialising before the devastating incident.

As previously reported, Mr New had won 20 medals during his time with Sunday League side Knighton Arms, formerly known as Woolston T&L, a team he had played with for nearly a decade.

He was well-known by his nickname Bino and also played for other teams, including Sporting BTC, Team Solent and Veracity Vipers on Saturdays.

His medals included five Hampshire Sunday Senior Cups, eight Premier Divisions, six AJ Miller trophies and seven Southampton Senior Cups.

During the inquest at Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner’s Court, assistant coroner Ian Singleton listened to all the evidence regarding Mr New’s activities on the night of August 29 and the early hours of August 30.

He heard evidence from the British Transport Police, who had prepared a report, outlining that Mr New had been hit by a train between midnight and 1am. He suffered multiple injuries as a result.

Paramedics from South Western Ambulance Service were called to the track but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Singleton ruled that his death was a result of an accident.

At the time of his death scores of tributes were paid to the much-loved footballer, whose funeral took place at Wessex Vale Crematorium, in Hedge End, before a wake at the Obelisk pub, in Woolston.

One-time Knighton Arms manager Scott Marchant said that the news had devastated the football community, adding: “Bino was an honest and terrific footballer, one of the best to wear the Knighton shirt.

“But most importantly, away from football Bino was a true gentleman, a genuinely nice guy and a great friend to all that knew him.

“You never heard a bad word said about him – he always had a smile on his face.

“Bino was an extremely-liked guy and was part of the Woolston T&L and Knighton Arms teams and has left an irreplaceable void.”