CREDITON AFC has announced, with great sadness, that Club chairman, head groundsman and long-standing committee member, Graham Avery, passed away on Friday, July 17.

The club said: “As a club, we are still in deep shock at Graham’s sudden passing and all our thoughts and best wishes go to Mary, Joanne, Steven and family at this very sad time.

“Graham fulfilled a number of roles and duties over the many years during his time at the club including Chairman, Vice Chairman, Head Groundsman and youth coach.

“During his tenure as Chairman, Graham, together with wife and Club Secretary Mary, were instrumental in ensuring the club’s current healthy status both on and off the pitch.

“Graham is also largely credited for recognising the importance of building and maintaining a close relationship with our thriving youth setup, which he identified as being key towards the future development of the club.

“In more recent years, Graham dedicated much of his time to the general ongoing maintenance of both the pitch and the surrounding ground. Our playing surface at Lords Meadow is often regarded as one of the very best at our level.

“Graham was meticulous in his approach towards everything he did for the club and we will be forever grateful.

“The club’s pre-season training programme will start as planned this coming Tuesday.

“There is no doubt that Graham would expect the players to get fit and strong ahead of the coming season – no excuses!

“He will be very sorely missed by all at the club.

“Rest peacefully Graham.”

Dave Blanchford, club president and life member, said Graham would be sadly missed.

“At the club we are all in shock.

“Graham came to Crediton about 25 years ago with his son Steve and Steve played in our Youth teams.

“We have lost a very hard working committee member, someone who was a great family man, too.”