DETECTIVES are detailing the last hours of a “loving, thoughtful, caring” Hereford teenager for crucial clues as to how and why he died at his family home.

The loss of Greg Thomas, aged 16 and seemingly with everything to live for, was marked by a minute’s applause before Hereford United played Leicester City on Saturday.

United striker Steve Guinan dedicated his goal during the game to the stalwart young supporter and the rest of the team signed a flag.

Grand National winning trainer Venetia Williams also paid tribute to Greg, who worked for a time at her Kings Caple stables.

Greg was found dead in his bedroom at the family home in Holmer Park, Hereford, early last Wednesday morning after a night out in the city.

Police are treating the death as unexplained with detectives investigating on behalf of the county coroner. The inquiry team can confirm that no-one is being sought in connection with the death.

Family members describe Greg as a thoughtful, loving and caring young man, permanently attached to his iPod but quick to share a cheeky smile and a cheery word.

Having just left Hereford’s Aylestone High School, Greg was thinking over what he wanted out of life. It seemed he was ready to follow his dad Rob into the building trade with a job at Glosford Timber Solutions and the possibility of a construction course at Herefordshire College of Technology.

For a time he was looking to make something out of his love of horses, having been accepted for jockey training at the British Racing School, only to decide that it was not for him at that point.

Greg did work for a while at Venetia Williams’ stables. The top trainer, who celebrated a sensational Grand National win last week, said her part-time stable lad was a hard and conscientious worker who quickly took up a keen interest in racing.

*For more tributes see this week's Hereford Times.