Melanie Hall’s father bowed his head in mourning alongside fans and players at Bath City Football Club for a minute’s silence on Saturday.

Steve Hall, 64, of Leigh Grove, joined hundreds of others at Twerton Park before the match against Basingstoke for the tribute to his daughter, whose bones were found in undergrowth by the M5 more than two weeks ago.

Mr Hall, who served as chairman of the club for seven years, said: “What was particularly nice was that usually when the ref blows his whistle after a minute’s silence people start cheering and chatting but this time there was a spontaneous round of applause. That was lovely.

“Over the last 13 years particularly the club, the staff, directors and supporters have been a tremendous strength to me really and it was lovely working with them.”

His daughter, who was 25 at the time she went missing, was last seen alive during a night out in Cadillac’s nightclub, Walcot Street, Bath, on June 9, 1996.

Her remains were discovered in black bin liners on the side of junction 14 of the M5 near Thornbury on October 5. She had suffered serious head injuries before her death.

Mr Hall, who is still a Bath City fan and goes to most of the home games, said: “To a large extent, me joining the club was to do with the disappearance of Melanie, because I had this terrible void afterwards.

“The club formed an independent supporters’ association and I went along and volunteered for something to do, and then became vice-chairman and secretary.

“They then formed a new board of directors and they asked me to be chairman.

“The club has been there for me. Just being normal and the friendship that I have gained through it has been a solid form of support for me.”