Alan was 78 and had been living in New Milton the New Forest where he moved to in 1980s. He and wife Liz were successful and popular figures in the Town running their business, Corbins the Florists. Later they opened a second shop in Brockenhurst. He was also intimately involved in the local sports scene captaining New Milton Cricket Club.

Alan joined Dulwich Hamlet from St Albans City in October 1967, having previously played for Kingstonian under then Hamlet manager Peter Gleeson and featured in the 1960 FA Amateur Cup for previous club Hendon. In his seven years with the K’s Alan, nickname “Earp” by his teammates, endeared himself to fans and players alike with his great sense of humour and infectious laugh. Colleagues recall that the dressing room was never dull when he was in it.

Alan spent three seasons at Champion Hill, scoring an astonishing 49 goals in 119 first team appearances for the then-struggling Pink’n’Blues, perennial basement boys in those days! In the each of his first two seasons, Alan topped the goal scoring charts. In 1967/1968 Alan bagged 27 goals as Dulwich Hamlet finished 15th of 20 in the Isthmian League, all the more remarkable given that the Hamlet only scored 39 goals in their 38 games that season! One of the highlights of that first season was a hat trick for the Hamlet in a 5-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers in the Isthmian League. The following season Alan was again top marksman finding the net 14 times as Dulwich finished 18th.

After leaving Dulwich, Alan spent some seasons at Harrow Borough, where he played for and later managed the club. Dulwich Hamlet fans recall him still pulling on his boots for Harrow Borough in the late 70’s with more than 40 years on the clock!

Alan belonged to an era when football and cricket seasons rarely intruded upon each other, a time when Gentlemen and Players took to the field and club cricketers could easily be the equal of their professional counterparts in the First-Class game. Besides being a distinguished footballer on the top Isthmian League circuit, Allan was a much respected and influential playing member of the all-conquering Southgate cricket team that was so dominant in national club cricket in the 1970s. Between 1973 and 1985, Allan played in seven ECB Haig national club championship quarter-finals, three semi-finals and was a member of the Southgate team which beat Cheshire-based Bowden in the rain delayed 1977 final at Edgbaston.

Dulwich Hamlet Football Club extend our sincere condolences to Alan’s family and friends at this sad time.

• Alan’s funeral is at St Luke’s Church, Church Road, Sway, S41 6AD on Friday November 18 (2.30) and afterwards at the Bramshaw Golf Club.