Friends and work colleagues have expressed their sadness after the death of a lifelong postie and keen footballer.

Andy Hone, 43, attended the North School in Ashford in the 1980s before joining Royal Mail when he was 17 in 1990.

The father-of-two joined as a postal cadet, and had received as special award as Postal Cadet of the Year in his time working at the delivery office in Tannery Lane.

His death was reported on Saturday, April 30 on the Ashford and District Sunday League website, where he was a well known figure making more than 1,200 for Ashford Dynamo Football Club.

Royal Mail’s delivery sector manager for Ashford Fred Vincent said: “It is with great shock and sadness that staff at the Ashford Delivery Office learned of the sudden death of one of our postmen.

“Andy Hone was a valued member of staff and he will be sorely missed by his colleagues, friends and customers in Ashford.

“Our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with his family and friends and this very sad time.”

Ashford Dynamo club secretary Ted Revell described Andy Hone as a “stalwart” who had first represented the royal blues at the age of 15 in the late 1980s.

Mr Revell said: “Obviously we’re deeply shocked. It is such a great loss and he will be remembered by all at the club.

“Some local players are a little bit average but not Andy, he showed over many, many years that his level did not drop.

“He would play in a number of positions and would always do what he was asked to do willingly and give his all. My thoughts go out to his family, friends and children.”

Mr Revell was joined in his tributes by others at the club. President Ken Jenkins said: “The club, myself, and the people involved in the Ashford and District Leagues will miss him dearly.

“He was a manager’s dream because he didn’t care what position he was asked to play, he just went out there to do his best.

“Rest peacefully my friend, you will be remembered in the archives of our club.”

Meanwhile vice president Pete Thomas said: “I played in the same Dynamo teams as Andy from youth to Sunday mornings. He was a likeable guy and always greeted you with a smile and a laugh.

“It is a tragic loss not only to Dynamo, but to his family, friends and former team mates.”

Current club captain Paul Pettitt added: “I’m in absolute shock, what a great guy, R.I.P Andy.”

Tributes also appeared on social media and on the Ashford and District Sunday League website, and teams observed a minute of applause before kicking off their matches last weekend.

Andy Hone was also a keen darts player and was pictured in the Kentish Express newspaper for his success in the Ashford Charity Indoor Sports League.

An inquest into the circumstances of his death is due to commence shortly.