A TALENTED teenager who hoped to become a professional footballer was found dead after an argument with his girlfriend.

Kyle Rayner, aged 17, of Selbourne Close, Westhoughton, was discovered by his father, George, on the floor of the extension of their home, with a piece of flex wire hanging from the rafters.

Kyle had been to a party on the night he died and had broken up with his girlfriend, Katie Walker, who after their row had arranged to meet him the following Monday.

She told an inquest into his death that she never believed he would have done anything to harm himself and, after they had spoken that night, gave no indication that anything was going to happen.

His grief-stricken family and friends had said the football-crazy teenager had everything to live for and was due to have trials the following month for Oldham Athletic and Bury.

Kyle had even packed his bag on the day he died in readiness to play for his team, Breightmet-based Wyresdale, in a cup match later that day.

The teenager had left Canon Slade High School the previous year and was working alongside his father at Vale Paper Ltd, Daisy Hill. He was waiting to start a college soccer coaching course in September.

But his ambition was to follow in his father's footballing footsteps. He had played for Oldham Athletic in his younger days.

As well as playing for school teams, Kyle played cricket in the summer months and also represented various amateur soccer teams, including Ladybridge Football Club and Deane Sports Club.

At 14 he became the youngest player to play in the Bolton Combination open age league, turning out for Belmont FC.

Coroner Jennifer Leeming recorded a verdict of accidental death. She said: "I don't think that Kyle intended for one moment to take his own life. He was just a teenage lad intending to prove to his girlfriend that he was upset."

Speaking after the inquest his father, George, echoed the coroner's comments.

Mr Rayner said: "I don't think Kyle ever intended to kill himself. It was like he wanted the flex to make a mark and then be able to say: 'Look what you've made me do'."