THE chairman of Derbyshire County Cricket Club has paid tribute to Keith Poynton, father of Derbyshire cricketer Tom Poynton, after he died in a road crash.
Wicketkeeper Tom was also involved in the accident and suffered limb injuries.
The crash happened in Caldwell Road, near Rosliston, on Friday at about 8pm.
A red Ferrari 458 Spider which Keith, 57, was driving left the road and hit a tree.
Chairman Chris Grant said Keith was "a better role model as a human being one will ever meet".
He added: "I respected him more than anyone.
"He was a true inspiration to so many people and although it's easily said at a time like this, I never heard anyone say a bad word about him or not like him.
"He achieved huge success in his chosen career from humble beginnings but also balanced it with being a perfect husband and father.
"No purer bloke on the face of this earth and I will think about him and miss him every single day of my life. I will do my absolute utmost to take the very best aspects of Keith and incorporate them into my day when going forward.
"He was a fantastic friend and I would always describe him as 'inner circle'.
"He was loyal to the core and 100% supportive through thick and thin.
"He loved a laugh, ever smiling and yet he was shrewd and perceptive.
Tom and his brother Adam have both paid their own tributes to their father. Tom said he was "the greatest man I will ever know", and Adam said: "I am so proud to have had a dad loved by so many."
Chris Grant said: "Adam and Tom epitomise everything good in him and I will do anything I can to support them and Sheena through and beyond this."
Keith's wife, Sheena, said: "We would like to thank everyone for how much we have appreciated their messages of support at this terrible time in our lives.
"It has provided us all with immense comfort knowing that so many people loved him as much as we did."
Tom, 24, was taken to Queen's Hospital, in Burton after the crash, and later discharged.
Tributes have been pouring in from the cricket community for Keith.
He was the director of manufacturing firm Briggs, based in Derby Street, Burton.
A spokesman for Derbyshire police urged any witnesses to come forward or anyone who saw a new red Ferrari 458 Spider in the area to leave their details for PC 636 Parkin of the collision investigation unit.
