Former Ebbsfleet manager Liam Daish has paid tribute to his FA Trophy-winning captain Paul McCarthy.

McCarthy died after a heart attack on Sunday, aged 45. As well as Daish's skipper, he also served as the club’s assistant manager from 2009-2013.

“I’m hurting but my thoughts are with his wife and four lovely daughters,” said a tearful Daish. “I’ve got nothing but compliments for the man, he was a proper man.

“When I got told I was in total shock but now it’s sinking in and it’s horrible.

“Paul was an honest, genuine man with good values. Whatever he did, he did properly. He was a great competitor on the pitch, a leader of men, a proud Irishman and someone you could rely on.

“He won the biggest trophy in the club’s history.”

McCarthy lifted the FA Trophy at Wembley following the 1-0 win over Torquay in 2008. But it was the qualities of the man, his personality and the respect he commanded that stood out for Daish.

“A lot of people talk about Paul lifting the trophy at Wembley or being assistant manager when we won promotion (in 2011),” added Daish. “Although they were great times, they are not the things that stick out for me.

“I had long days and long nights coming back with Paul from all over the country after games. We had some tough times and in those times we really got to know each other.

“I don’t let people into my (life) often but I opened up to Paul, not just about football but about family life. We’d always end up laughing or taking the mickey, normally at (goalkeeping coach) Ron Hillyard’s expense!

“I remember one year when we played every other day it seemed at one point, the fixture list was crazy.

“We had to get each other up for it, as a coach or manager the players look to you for inspiration. But who was going to inspire me? A lot of the time that was Paul.”