A GRADUATE who was killed in the Shoreham airshow disaster has been described by his parents as a “kind, loyal and exceptional young man”.

Jacob Schilt, 23, died on the A27 on Saturday while on the way to play a football match with his Worthing United FC team mate Matthew Grimstone.

His parents, Bob and Caroline Schilt, and girlfriend Megan Duffy, 22, were on their way to watch the match when they heard he had not arrived.

Yesterday his parents said football was their son’s “obsession” from the age of five. They added: “It is such a tragedy that his life was taken on his way to do what he most loved doing.

“Jacob was a generous, kind, loyal and exceptional young man. He loved his family and friends and he loved living life to the full.

“He will be missed always by his parents.

“Megan, his girlfriend, has been robbed of the life and future they were planning together. We really appreciate everybody’s messages of support.”

Jacob also leaves a sister, Louise, and grandfather John.

Mr Schilt graduated from Portsmouth University last summer and was due to start a master’s degree in planning at the University of Brighton in September.

He captained the Varndean College football team and used to play for Patcham United and Hove Riverdale.

Mum Caroline said: “He was very humorous, mischievous and cheeky, but very kind and popular.”

Dad Bob added: “He had many, many friends in everything that he did.”

The family recalled how teammate and good friend Mr Grimstone arrived at their home in Brighton on Saturday morning to pick up their son for the match.

Mrs Schilt, a teacher at Brighton and Hove High School, said: “He said, ‘See you at the match.’”

Although early in the season it was an important match against Loxwood FC and Jacob was looking forward, his family said.

Shortly after 1.20pm, they heard that the Hawker Hunter had crashed. Like many at the time, they thought it must have gone down in a field.

But as they got closer to Worthing United FC’s ground, they received a phone call.

Mrs Schilt said: “His team mates were trying to get hold of us because they said Matt and Jacob had not arrived at the ground.

“He had been trying to get hold of them and said they would never not have let them know if they were running late.

“Then they said, ‘we are really, really scared,’ because one of the players had seen the plane come down.”

The family stayed in contact with Mr Grimstone’s family, and after midnight had a call from the police to confirm their car had been found at the scene of the crash.

Miss Duffy, who met Mr Schilt three years ago during her first night out at Portsmouth University, said: “Had he left here 30 seconds earlier he would not have been there.”

Mr Schilt added: “I don’t want to become too bitter about the cruelty of fate.

“I am trying not to focus on how unfair this chance was. We will have to work hard on it.”