A wife has been consoled after Kings Langley FC and Oxhey Jets FC paid tribute to her football-loving husband who died suddenly.  

Dean Bradford, 49, from Hemel Hempstead, was the Leverstock Green FC’s club secretary for four years.

He died unexpectedly from a cardiac arrest on Friday, September 8, when he was on holiday in Dorset with his family.

Watford Observer: Dean and Julie on their wedding dayDean and Julie on their wedding day (Image: Bradford family)When his death was announced via Twitter, Kings Langley FC described Dean as “a great character and someone we always enjoyed seeing at our club”.

 

While Oxhey Jets FC said: “Awful news for club and family… deepest sympathies to family and friends.”

 

Dean’s wife, Julie Bradford, 58, said it was “lovely” that the other football clubs had offered their support and has even received flowers from some of them.

She added: “Leverstock Green FC has been so supportive too. The chairman has messaged me every day. All the players loved Dean.”

Julie added: “He was passionate about non-league football. The people are there for you, it’s a community spirit.”

Dean, a father of two and stepfather of two, was described as a “doting, loving, father who was very proud of his children” by Julie.

She added: “As a person he was always happy, cheerful and bubbly.

“He loved fancy dress parties and when we went to see Elton John, he wore feather bowers and the glasses. People always said it wasn’t a party until Dean was in the room.

“He loved life and would do anything for anyone.”

Watford Observer: Dean loved sports.Dean loved sports. (Image: Bradford family)

Dean, who worked in finance, enjoyed gardening and karaoke in his spare time, but it was sport that he was most passionate about.

Julie said: “He loved any competitive sport. When the Olympics were on, he would be up at silly o’clock in the morning watching an event.

“If there was a tiddlywinks final he’d be there cheering it on.”

Since Dean’s passing Julie and her family have been left “heartbroken”.

She said: “But what has helped is seeing all the kind comments on Facebook and Twitter when people have reached out saying how shocked they are.”