Tributes have been paid to 'larger than life' Hadleigh rugby club character Terry Smith, who has recently passed away.

Nicknamed Smiffy, Terry played hooker for the Layham Sports Ground-based club and was popular on and off the pitch.

Neil Farrow, Hadleigh Rugby Club president, went to school with Terry, and paid tribute to his long standing friend.

Mr Farrow said: "Terry's wife Caroline and his boys will have a massive hole in their lives now he's gone but will also have a deep mine of great memories to draw from. As will we at the club.

"Terry always said after leaving school, if he hadn't found rugby he would probably have been in prison.

"He said that rugby saved him and coincidently Hadleigh Rugby Club were the beneficiaries of a personality that created brotherhood, laughter and an endless supply of anecdotes."

Away from the pitch, Mr Farrow revealed how Terry had a heart of gold and was generous with his bricklaying skills and time.

"Apart from his rugby exploits Terry was a gifted bricklayer and worked for a while in Germany just like the "Aufwiedersehen Pet" characters we used to know," said Mr Farrow.

"When he wasn't building houses, Terry being Terry, he also helped me and a lot of team mates and friends with brickwork around our homes as well. That's the sort of guy he was."

Mr Farrow explained how Terry was widely known around town and in his youth, he was a keen fisherman.

He added: "He got to know a lot of the local farmers by regularly being caught on their land 'trying out a pond'.

"Also like an old fisherman, Terry liked a good yarn. You could always find him, and hear his gruff voice, in a local hostelry entertaining a group around him for a beer or two."

Former team captain Kev Parker, described Terry as "Tough as teak" and "it was always a pleasure to cross the whitewash with T by your side and go to war for 80 minutes."

In times of intense battle on the pitch Terry would break the tension with his infamous 'Goose Step' to try and fool the opposition as to which way he was going to sprint yet everyone knowing that he would simply smash into the nearest guy anyway.

As part of his tribute Mr Farrow said: "Towns, schools and clubs need characters like Terry.

"Without the 'Terrys' in this world it would be a very dull place. We will all forever miss him but we will all have the odd moment smiling thinking about him."

Mr Smith's funeral is at 9.45am, at Seven Hills next Friday, 18 February. Wife Caroline has requested relaxed dress and club clothing/ties if available.

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