‘Someone you could rely on’

Steve McKimm has paid tribute to the former Tonbridge Angels player who collapsed on the pitch and died this week.

Charlie Slocombe was taking part in a six-a-side game when he had to be rushed to King’s College Hospital.

The 26-year-old was put on a life support machine but passed away on Tuesday.

Slocombe made 32 first-team appearances for Tonbridge and manager McKimm was shocked to hear of his death.

He said: “I felt numb and I felt sad.

“He was one of the lads that came through the reserves with John Gibbons in my first season and he was someone you could rely on. In that season we needed bodies like that.

“He was a nice, humble lad. I never had a problem during training or games, whether he was in or out of the team, and he was a credit to his family. “I feel for his dad, who was our physio for the reserves at that time. Charlie was at the club for years, so was Keith and when he wasn’t going to get into the side, he decided it was time to move on because he wanted to play football. He knew he was at an age where he needed to play regularly.

“I’m just gutted. It’s frightening to be playing football and going down like that.

“I feel for Keith, his wife and Charlie’s girlfriend and everyone connected with their family because it’s such a sad thing at 26 years of age.

“We had it with Junior Dian when he was 24 and now with Charlie as well.

“Even though he wasn’t part of us at this moment in time, he was still a big part of me as my first manager’s job. I’m absolutely dumbstruck. It’s a scary situation.”

Slocombe’s former team-mates were quick to pay tribute when the club tweeted the news on Tuesday.

Nathan Elder called him “a lovely guy” and Luke Blewden described Slocombe as “an absolute gentleman” while Jack Parter remembered “a good friend who never had a bad word to say about anyone.”

“You couldn’t not like Charlie,” said McKimm. “He wasn’t one of the household names, one of the so-called superstars of nonleague football but when you got to know him and work with him, he was a down-to-earth, really lovely kid that wanted to do the best for you and the team.

“His plaudits or accolades came second. It was all about everyone else other than him.

“He was never someone that wanted to be the main superstar, he let other people do that and he’d just get on with his job quietly, confidently and comfortably.”

After leaving Tonbridge, Slocombe went on to play for Hastings, Crowborough and Hythe.