NOTTINGHAM Forest's Chief Executive Mark Arthur has led the tributes to a Clifton soldier killed in Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal Kieron Hill, who died in the Helmand province yesterday, was the older brother of Nottingham Forest central defender Aaron Mitchell, 19.

Mr Arthur said: "We offer our deepest and heartfelt condolences, thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of Lance Corporal Kieron Hill.

"As a club we will give Aaron all the support he needs at this extremely difficult time."

Aaron is a graduate of the club's Academy, and is now a regular in Forest's reserve side.

He was recently offered a new one-year contract.

LCpl Hill, 20, a member of 2nd Battalion Mercian Regiment, was killed in an explosion near Garmsir in Helmand yesterday.

The battalion, based in Derbyshire, is on a six-month tour of duty in southern Helmand.

A statement issued by his family said: "We are fully supportive of Kieron being in the Army; fulfilling his ambitions since 13 years of age. He confidently thrived on the military environment, hitting his first promotion target as a 20-year-old.

"He was also very proud of his three brothers: Aaron at Nottingham Forest FC, Liam at Notts County, and his younger brother Joshua. Kieron will be terribly missed by his whole family, relatives and friends."

A spokesman for Notts County said: "Everyone at the club is devastated to hear the news of Kieron's death and our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.

"The club will do everything in its power to help at this terrible time and will offer our full support to Liam, who has just been given a scholarship with Notts County."

A huge Forest fan, Kieron spoke to the Post shortly before his departure to Afghanistan.

He said it was important to remain professional despite the difficulties of fighting in Afghanistan.

"The language barrier is always going to be there but you have got to trust your interpreter," he said.

"You are always conscious of dying but it is your job you have signed up for – if a situation happens there is nothing you can do about it."

Mr Hill attended Fairham College in Clifton. He was single with no children.

After completing infantry basic training at Infantry Training Centre Catterick he joined C Company 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) in 2006 at the age of 17.

Lieutenant Colonel Simon Banton, Lance Corporal Hill's Commanding Officer, said: "Kieron Hill was a charming and funny man. He was always ready with a joke and his sense of fun was irrepressible. His twin passions were the Mercian Regiment and Nottingham Forest Football Club.

"He was a talented sportsman and played football to a high standard. He was exceptionally fit, strong and capable and destined for a life in uniform. "He was an Army Cadet and exceptionally proud of being from Nottinghamshire and of serving his country; his family were in turn wonderfully proud of the path he had taken and the example he set to others. "Whenever someone needed help Kieron would be there to lend a hand, he was a team player and thought of others before himself. This was his second tour of Afghanistan and it is a measure of the man that despite a hard fought tour in 2007 he went forward again with a smile on his face and a hand extended to help his brothers. He is sorely missed."

Major Bob Moorhouse Officer Commanding C Company, said of him: "I was aware of Lance Corporal Hill before I took over command of C Coy; that is how strong his reputation was. As a soldier, his sheer motivation was enough to overcome the challenges that a Junior NCO faces everyday, however, he possessed so many more qualities. He was professional, knowledgeable and commanded respect from every level. L/Cpl Hill would have gone far in the Mercian Regiment. As a Comrade, he was the one that kept everybody smiling and where no job was too much trouble. With so many characters in C Coy it is difficult to stand out from the crowd; L/Cpl Hill achieved this with ease. Although we are spread across a number of locations in Helmand Province, every man from C Coy will be thinking fondly of L/Cpl Hill's smile tonight and will be back out on patrol tomorrow hoping to emulate a fine Junior NCO and an even finer friend."

Conservative MP for Newark Patrick Mercer, a former colonel in the Foresters, said: "I met the battalion as they were going out to Afghanistan a few weeks ago.

"They were very determined, if apprehensive, and knew that there would be fatalities and other people being injured.

"I have no doubt that Corporal Hill met his death facing the enemy like a true Nottingham man."

A number of people have paid tribute to Kieron on the Post's website.

One, from Simone, read: "Kieron i cnt get u out of my haed babe! xxxx"

Another read: "You will be missed so much and never forgotten. Always our hero (x) xxxxxxxxx"

On 2 Mercian's last tour in 2007 nine men were killed, including drummer Thomas Wright, 21, from Ripley, and Private Brian Tunnicliffe, 33, originally from Ilkeston.

Pay your tributes to Kieron at http://lastingtribute.thisisnottingham.co.uk/tribute/hill/3086594