Alan Shepherd, 47, died suddenly of a heart attack on Saturday after collapsing during a hockey match, a game which he loved and had played for around eight years.

Alan, of Tweed Close, Daventry, was a much-loved family man, a dear friend and colleague to many and well respected within Daventry Town Hockey Club, where he was club captain.

Bill Shepherd, Alan’s father, said: “It’s totally unreal. He was so active.

“Alan was a jolly character and he was always there when you needed him. He was very caring to his family and friends.

“We’ll miss him turning up on the doorstep and his kindness – he would do anything for anyone.”

Alan was born and brought up in Norton, the son of Bill and the late Mary Shepherd. He has five brothers and sisters – Marianne, John, Phil, Helen and Amanda – and a 25-year-old son, Aaron.

Alan was into sport from a young age, playing football and cricket. Later in life he took up golf and hockey. Alan also did charity work and enjoyed pottery

Phil Shepherd, Alan’s brother, said: “He was always involved in local sports and activities and encouraged children on his estate where he lived to play.

“He was very proud of his son Aaron, who is a professional golfer.

“He was very outgoing, sociable and popular and was always there for everyone.

“Everyone has said they’ve lost their best friend.”

Sue Soppitt has known Alan for 12 years and said she is ‘devastated’ following his death.

She said: “He was my best friend, we were inseparable.

“He was inspirational, amazing and was always there with a smile. I’ll miss so much about him.”

From the age of 16 Alan worked as a landscape gardener for The Landscape Consultants and travelled all over the country with his job.

John Theodorson, owner of the company, said: “He was a great guy, who had a love for life.

“He enjoyed everything he did. It was an honour that I knew him.

“I could not have asked for any more, he was like a member of our family.”

Alan joined Daventry Town Hockey Club around eight years ago and during that time has been the captain of the second and third teams and managed the firsts. He was also the treasurer and club captain - making a huge impact on everyone during that time.

Hockey player Wesley Pope, who also worked with Alan, said: “He was the most honest, down-to-earth person you would ever know.”

Another player David Guest added: “When you come into the team as a kid, you always look up to someone and that person was him.”

Alan was playing for the Daventry Thirds against Newark on Saturday at the Sports Park in Browns Road, Daventry when the tragedy happened, five minutes before the end of the game.

Ron Pilgrim, who founded the club in 1989 and was also Alan’s housemaster at Ashby Road Comprehensive [William Parker] School, was umpiring the match.

He said: “I’ve never seen anything like this before on the hockey pitch.