The family of a murdered football manager will remember him as a practical joker with a big character.

Ryan Musgrove was gunned down during a training session in West Wickham on July 17 and died from a single gun shot wound.

The 36-year-old was shot after a masked man burst from the bushes on Sparrows Den playing fields in Addington Road, West Wickham and opened fire with a hand gun.

He was the first team manager at Coney Hall Football Club and was about to take a training session when he was killed.

His uncle Peter Musgrove, who lived just down the road from him, spoke to the Croydon Guardian about his much-loved nephew.

Mr Musgrove said he lived in the same house as his nephew and watched him grow into a young man.

The electrician, who coached football in his spare time, leaves behind two children - daughter Saffron, 13, and son Storm, 11, who is just about to start secondary school.

He lived with his girlfriend Kelly.

He said: “He was an honourable young man and a practical joker.

“He had a cheeky grin on his face and although he was small in stature he had a big character.

“Football was his true love in the sports world.

“He took his little son to Spain to see them play Liverpool the last time they were over there.

“He loved his cars and was always up to his elbows in grease.”

He said Ryan grew up in a noisy, lively home with two brothers and two sisters.

“The family are just devastated, everyone is getting support off everyone else.”

Mr Musgrove said the murder shocked the close-knit family.

“It was obviously planned, somebody jumped out of the bushes and picked out their man.

“I just can’t think why anyone would want to do that. Ryan was an honourable man.

“We will all miss him greatly, my life will never be the same.”

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