Amateur footballer Tony Kyle died after falling from a balcony while celebrating his stag weekend in Spain with a group of friends.

Mr Kyle, a 25-year-old roofer, died from injures he sustained in the fall on 8 November, 2008 in Lloret de Mar on the Costa Brava.

His friends said he was popular on and off the pitch. Players at his team, Heavitree Social United in Exeter, called off their Devon Premier Cup tie at home to Bere Alston as a mark of respect.

Mr Kyle, who lived in Exwick with his fiancee Emma, had also played for Whipton & Pinhoe. As a teenager, he played for St Thomas and Exeter & East Devon Schools before moving to Broadclyst Social Club, where he was a member of the team for five years until the 2008/09 season.

He had been having treatment for a damaged knee ligament and was due to have an operation when he came back from his honeymoon.

Shawn King, second team coach at Heavitree United, said: "It’s a massive loss to the club and his family and friends.

'Tony was a very decent fellow and a very good striker. He scored a lot of goals. He was a quiet man and very sensible."

Broadclyst manager Paul Taylor said: "These are such sad circumstances. He was one of my closest friends in the team and we had a good relationship.

"He was a sound lad on and off the pitch and loved his football – he played Saturdays and Sundays.

"He was a very quick and talented player and a good goal scorer, especially in the final of the Devon Senior Cup last year."

Broadclyst secretary Paul White said: "This is such a shock; we know he was due to get married soon.

"On behalf of everyone at the football club, we would like to send our condolences to his family.

"He was a great, outgoing, fun-loving lad."