A POPULAR figure in the south Devon football world has died of cancer at the age of just 49.

Andy Hill, assistant manager of Newton Abbot’s Buckland Athletic, died yesterday.

He had been with the club for three seasons working alongside manager Adam Castle.

Among those paying tribute to him today was club chairman Roy Holmes who described him as ‘a reliable, all-round good guy.’

He said: ‘He did a lot of good work for the first team. Nothing was ever too much trouble for him.

‘Everything was done properly. He just got on with things. He really was a good and reliable all-round guy.’

He added: ‘It’s so right when they say that the good ones always go early. It’s a sad time for the club.’

The club, which postponed tonight’s game against Longwell Green Sports as a mark of respect, announced the sad loss on its website.

Manager Adam Castle described his colleague’s passing as ‘devastating news.’

‘He is a huge loss to the club and of course his family,’ he added.’Picture: Andy Hill – Buckland Athletic Football Club