UPLYME FC chairman Gavin Fowler paid a glowing tribute to club president Fred Smith at the Swallows’ annual presentation night.

Smith, who passed away last week, was described as a “true gentleman” by Fowler.

“He was always at the matches come rain or shine, and his comments at the end of the games were always positive, even if we’d lost,” he said.

“At cup finals he’d turn up with his two bags full of bubbly and insist we drank them, whether we won or lost. The club will miss him.”

Those present at The Nags Head pub, the club’s sponsors, stood for a minute’s silence in honour of Smith.

Meanwhile, departing first-team manager Rob Coomb, who will be replaced by Steve Gillian for next season, said the last term had been a challenging one.

He told the players he was sad to be standing down but his work commitments meant he couldn’t always be available every Saturday.

Awards: Players’ Player and Top Scorer – Jake Beaupart; Manager’s Player – Mark Taylor; Young Player – Johnny Davis; Most Improved – Tom Gollop; Committee Player – Niall Fiffer; Clubman – Stan Fiffer and Tim Daniels.