A dedicated servant to clubs, leagues and the amateur football scene across Kent has died.

Clubs from the Kent County Football League observed a minute's silence in memory of Roy Benton as a mark of respect, who died aged 84 following a short illness.

Born in 1938, Mr Benton was one of four surviving children for Henry and Elizabeth Benton. He had a twin who sadly died at birth.

Growing up in Carshalton he quickly developed a love of football and was recruited to the junior squad for Crystal Palace, but any chance of a professional career was interrupted when he was called up for National Service in 1956.

He served in the Army in Cyprus during the civil war and foght for Cypriot independence from the British.

Back home in Carshalton, he married Brenda Higgs on March 10, 1962 and the couple moved to Taylor Road in Snodland to be near friends, where they stayed for the rest of his life. The couple had two children: Lorraine and Stephen.

Mr Benton worked as a fitter installing false ceilings and as an engineer servicing boilers, before he found his forte in the 1970s when he moved to Transfesa Terminals in Paddock Wood. The firm imported fruit from Spain and Mr Benton rose to be the terminal's manager.

Although his interest in football never waned - he was a lifelong Tottenham Hotspur fan - it received a boost when his son Stephen became old enough to start playing.

When Stephen played for Snodland Nomads, Mr Benton would take him and watch every match. He started to get involved in running the club and became a team manger. When Stephen switched to Reed International (Aylesford Paper Mills), Mr Benton followed and soon became the club's chairman.

When Stephen again switched, this time to Bearsted Football Club, Mr Benton was quickly adopted onto the committee there, serving as club secretary for many years, a role he continued even after his son stopped playing.

Stephen said: "He was always very practical - helping out at the club's ground in Honey Lane, Otham, with the maintenance of the clubhouse and pitch."

Mr Benton also took up golf, a game he played casually until his knees started to play up.

In the latter years, his wife developed dementia and Alzheimer's disease, but Mr Benton insisted on looking after her at home until his own health failed.

He died in Maidstone Hospital on October 26, after a short illness and clubs paid tribute across the league at their games the weekend following his death.

Gavin Hoare, chairman of the Kent County Football League, said: "Roy was a true gentleman of the game and alongside all his dedication to his own club, he was also part of our team on the league and gave great service to all our member clubs. He will be greatly missed."

Although Mr Benton devoted most of his time to Bearsted FC, he also sat on committees with the Southern Counties East Football League, the Kent Amateur Football League, and the Kent County Football Association.

He was a founder member of the Kent Invicta League Management Committee.

Duncan Andrews, a former chairman of Bearsted FC, said: "Roy was a very rare individual. He gave up so much of his time absolutely unconditionally.

"In my 27 years with Bearsted FC, no-one contributed so much to the club in so many different ways as Roy.

"He was also well respected on all the league committees that he joined with the aim of improving local football for the good of the community."

Stephen added: "He was a lovely dad and always wanted to help with any problems around the house - he was so good at maintenance and DIY.

"There was a short time when I was a teenager when I was embarrassed to have him watching my every game, but now looking back I realise he was always there for me, for my sister and for our mum.

"He was the best dad you could have."

Roy's funeral will be at Vinters Park Crematorium in Maidstone on Wednesday at 11.45am, with a wake after at Bearsted Football Club, Honey Lane, Otham.

Mr Benton leaves his widow Brenda, children Stephen and Lorraine, and grandchildren Isabel, Emily and Isla.