THE best friends of a football-loving 24-year-old killed when his car crashed into a telegraph pole have paid tribute to their "unforgettable" mate.

James Davison, pictured, was just a short distance from home when his Peugeot 206 left the road.

The crash happened just yards from the pub where he was a well-known and popular face.

As his many friends tried to take in the tragic news, they gathered at the Langley Tavern to pay their respects to the Saints "fanatic" who followed the team home and away.

Yesterday, his team-mates from Langley FC, the Sunday league team he regularly played for, wore black armbands in his memory during a cup semi-final.

Throughout the weekend friends and colleagues deluged the Daily Echo website with tributes to James, nicknamed Jimbo, expressing their shock and sadness at his tragic death.

Scores of mourners also visited the scene of the accident, leaving floral tributes, Saints memorabilia and even a pint of lager to mark the spot where James lost his life.

"Everybody knew him, but he didn't realise how popular he was," said friend Adam Fincham, 21.

"If you ever met him you'd never forget him, and the amount of love and respect his friends had for him was shown on Friday night.

"Everything about him was just unique - there's no one else who could come close to him."

James, a former pupil of Blackfield Infant and Hardley Secondary schools and Brockenhurst College, was also well-known for his love of music.

He already had his ticket for this summer's Isle of Wight Festival, and was also hoping to be able to go to see more live music at the Glastonbury and Reading festivals.

Last Wednesday, the evening before his death, James and a group of friends went to see up-and-coming band The Rifles perform at Southampton University.

"He loved his music and going to gigs," said Mike Day, 26.

"At the end of the night he turned to me and said that was one of the top ten most enjoyable nights of his life."

A fabrication welder at Esso, in Fawley, James had spent five years at Hythe Army Base, where he had completed an apprenticeship before being made redundant last September.

Another friend, 24-year-old Jack Kerr, told the Daily Echo how James, who was talking of buying a home in the area, would be remembered as the life and soul of the party.

"He was the kind of person who made a night out - you knew it would be a good night if he was there," said Jack.

"His was always the only voice you could ever hear," added Simon Tate, 21.

"He was always taking the mick out of someone - his sense of humour was definitely one of a kind."

Last night, James's parents were too devastated to talk, but a message posted on the Daily Echo website thanked their son's many friends and colleagues for their words of support.

An inquest into James's death is expected to be opened and adjourned today.