It was the greatest day in the recent history of Diss and one that football fans in the town will always remember.

In 1994, Diss Town Football Club won the FA Vase by beating Taunton Town 2-1 in extra time in front of 10,000 Tangerines fans at Wembley Stadium – leading to a celebratory procession through the market town.

One of the proudest men that day – and a lynchpin to the club's success – was its chairman, Des Tebble, who had the love of football running through his veins.

And now the football community in Diss is mourning the loss of Mr Tebble, whose association with the club stretched back to the 1950s.

Mr Tebble, who died on November 8, had captained the Tangerines for eight seasons in the 1950s and 1960s before the centre-half had to retire with a knee injury.

After being a committee member, he then became club chairman in the 1984/85 season and left the post in 2010.

As well as helping to steer the club to FA Vase glory, Mr Tebble was also part of a group of directors who worked tirelessly to ensure that Diss Town gained its current home at Brewers Green Lane.

Bill Punton, the manager who lifted the FA Vase with Diss, said: 'He was so pleased that we won that day as we are the only team in East Anglia to have ever won it.

'He was a lovely man and he was a very supportive chairman and was a great help to me. We never fell out about anything.'

Richard Upson, the club's current chairman, had played for Diss Town as a teenager with Mr Tebble, including a game in 1963 against North Walsham that ended 5-5, and had enjoyed a long friendship with him.

Mr Upson said: 'It is a sad loss to the club and to me personally. He was one of group of directors who worked tirelessly to make sure we got Brewers Green Lane.

'He was a strong player and was a staunch supporter of the club. He loved football and the club.'

As a tribute to Mr Tebble a one-minute silence was held at Tuesday's game against Stowmarket.

Paul Tong, who spent five stints managing the team under Mr Tebble, said: 'He was Mr Diss Town. He ate, slept and dreamt the club. He was a forthright chairman but was always supportive.'

A statement from the club said Mr Tebble had been 'widely accepted as the best centre-half in the Norfolk and Suffolk League' and after leaving as chairman 'Diss Town was never far from his life'.

Mr Tebble was married to Phyllis and had a son, Rodney.

He worked as an electrician.

Mr Tebble started his playing career as a 15-year-old with Roydon in the 1948/49 season.

He went on to sign for Norwich City and played for the A and B teams before leaving due to knee injury.

He then joined Diss Town and first played for the team in March 1953 against North Walsham in the Norfolk and Suffolk League.

The centre-half played until the 1965/66 season when the team played in the newly-formed Anglian Combination. One of his first functions as chairman of the club was to receive a Football Association testimonial at the club's centenary dinner in October 1986.

One of the gates at the team's ground is named after his mother Agnes, who wanted to give a permanent gesture to the club. Mr Tebble's brother Norman also played for Diss.