Action from the match between East Kent Mavericks and Maidstone Pumas on Sunday. Picture: Chris Davey.

Team mates have paid tributes to a player who collapsed and died during a Sunday afternoon American Football match in Canterbury.

Alan Newcombe died during the closing stages of a match between the Maidstone Pumas American Football Club and the East Kent Mavericks at the Keynes College playing fields, Kent University.

He had been playing earlier on in the match, but collapsed on the sidelines after coming off the pitch. Ambulance crews attended around 4.45pm.

A site set up for current and former Pumas players on social networking site Facebook, has carried tributes to Mr Newcombe, who was known as "Minty."

One member wrote: "We are all devastated by the loss of a great friend, team mate and brother - Alan ‘Minty’ Newcombe, who passed away wearing team colours on our sideline during the game."

Another added: "He loved being a Puma and was one of the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet. Our thoughts are with him, his family and all of his extended Pumas family at this very difficult time."

According to the club’s website, Mr Newcombe played in Pumas’ senior team in shirt number 56.

It is believed he was in his twenties and lived in Maidstone.

The Pumas were founded in 1987 and since 1997 have played senior level American Football in Division Two of the British American Football League.

The Canterbury coroner has been informed and a post mortem is due to be carried out on Tuesday afternoon.