A chance encounter and a brawl over a football game led a young father to murder a 21-year-old amateur footballer.

William Buckingham, 21, had gone out with friends on a normal Friday night to the Star Pub, in Ewell Village, where he met his killer, Daniel Press, 24, for the first and only time.

Mr Buckingham was drinking with friends at the pub when he met Press and a friend, Harley Allen, and the four men decided to play a game of pool, the Kingston Crown Court jury was told.

During the game, Mr Buckingham and Mr Allen found out their Sunday League teams would meet on the next day to play against one another.

After the pool game, Mr Allen continued talking to Mr Buckingham about football and to ‘wind him up’, pulled his stool.

Mr Buckingham is said to have lost his temper and hit Mr Allen on the cheek.

And just half an hour later, after more provocation from Mr Allen’s part, Mr Buckingham’s and Press were involved in a massive fight outside the public house, the court was told.

Press claimed in court he was trying to defend Mr Allen from Mr Buckingham when the fight broke out.

Forty five minutes later, the jury decided, Press hit Mr Buckingham with his Vauxhall Calibra, mounting the pavement on purpose after recognising the group of friends walking up the A24 London Road, in the early hours of September 27.

Press never hit the brakes and struck Mr Buckingham at no less than 25mph. He then drove away and left the young footballer for dead.

Mr Buckingham, a Fulham FC fan and keen Sunday League football player died later that day at St George’s Hospital.

His family and friends have since been leaving flower tributes at the spot where he was killed.

Last year a foundation was set up in his name by his family, the William Buckingham Foundation, to help children in the area who play football to buy kits and equipment.

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