PLAYERS, supporters and officials from Faversham Town FC are in mourning following the death of long-serving trustee Ken Hammond. He was 75.

Mr Hammond, whose association with the club goes back more than 35 years, suffered a head injury in an accidental fall on a coach trip back from London with his wife Pam on Tuesday. He died at the Medway Hospital at Gillingham on Wednesday afternoon.

Fellow trustee Ray Leader led the tributes to his close friend who he described as Faversham Town "to the very core" and a true gentleman.

He said: "Ken's death is an absolute tragedy. The man was Faversham Town to the very core. He loved his football, he loved his cricket and had an incredible sense of community. Most of all, he loved this football club.

"No one has worked harder down the years for Faversham Town than Ken Hammond and no one was more excited than he was about the future. Sadly, he will not now see our plans come to fruition but he will never be forgotten."

Chairman Bob Mason, whose own links with Salters Lane go back to the early 1970s, said: "Ken did virtually every job at Salters Lane. He served on the committee, been the fixtures secretary, ran the bar with his wife Pam as well as working as groundsman, all in addition to his role as a trustee.

"Ken was known for never being shy in telling the referees exactly what he thought of their performances and their decisions, but only as long as Pam wasn't listening!

"The club has lost one of her favourite sons. Ken will be sadly missed by everyone at Faversham Town Football Club and matchdays will be strange without him. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Pam and the family."