TRIBUTE has been paid to Davon Friend, the co-founder of the Chagfarm community farm initiative and a popular player and club member of Chagford Football Club, who has died at the age of 36.

In a statement, Chagford Football Club secretary John Pearce said: ‘It is with great sorrow Chagford Football Club has learned of the sudden passing of our club-mate Davon, at just 36 years of age.

‘Davon was an excellent player, clubman and a true friend. He was always supportive to his fellow players and often involved in behind the scenes activities with the club.

‘As a player he was tough, fair, endowed with skills many would wish to emulate and a natural leader. It was hoped he might take on duties within club management as he approached the end of his playing days. Sadly, this will not be and we are left to mourn the loss of a gentleman of the game.

‘The club has offered what support we can give and our heartfelt condolences to Davon’s family at this tragic time.’

Mr Pearce also said the club would consider combining its pre-existing annual memorial match with a tribute to Mr Friend.

Friends and club members paid tribute to Davon on the club’s Facebook page, calling him ‘gentle’, ‘selfless’, ‘kind mannered’, a ‘true club man’ and a ‘great role model’.

Along with his brother Sylvan, Davon set up Chagfarm, a not-for-profit company aiming to make the Chagford community’s food supply more resilient, offering local goat dairy products and honey, as well as high-welfare goat meat, pork, organic woodland poultry, lamb, beef, venison and game.