The 94 year old had been with the club for more than 50 years, beginning as a committee member and spending two spells as kit 'boy'.

The great-great grandfather sadly died in his sleep on Sunday, July 18, 19 years to the day since the death of wife Winnie.

He is thought to have been the oldest kit boy in the country.

"He was a great man. People won't understand how involved he was," said former chairman Dave Boggins, the man who gave Fred the job as kit boy when he took over at Vauxhall Road in 1997.

"At that age people would expect you to be lying in bed but he was actively involved - you couldn't keep the man down!

"That's what makes this even sadder."

Fred, who could be seen out and about driving his white Renault Clio until only a few months ago, only began cutting back on his kit duties in 2008.

From then on he was helped by an assistant, while the man himself was entrusted with looking after players' valuables during the game.

"He was worried if he stopped driving he wouldn't have been able to make it to out of town games," said grand daughter Belinda O'Brien.

She added: "He was happy knowing he was doing something important for the club at his age."

A permanent feature in the Tudors dressing room and regular sight in the dug-out, he will be remembered by every player to have donned the red shirt over the past half a century.

A war veteran, Fred was a chef in the King's Royal Rifles and took part in the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944.

After the war Fred, who was born in Hastings, continued his full time job as a milkman for Express Dairy when he moved to Hemel Hempstead in 1951.

He had two children, Brian and Dianne, who went on to provide him with two grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

He could always be counted on to talk about his visits to see son Brian and his family in Canada.

His last trip across the pond saw the football and Hemel FC-mad Fred watch the World Cup from Brian's house in Ontario.

He was furious at the way England went out of the tournament.

"We watched near enough every game together," said Brian, 64.

"He didn't want anyone else to win the World Cup after they went out.

"He was disgusted with the disallowed goal. He said even he could see it!"

Fred's funeral will take place at Garston Crematorium on Friday, August 6, with a reception afterwards at Hemel Hempstead Town FC on Vauxhall Road, Adeyfield.



Tributes left to Fred Barnes.



"The man was a Hemel legend who loved the football club. Top man, RIP Fred"



"Very sad news, Fred will be greatly missed, a true legend in the history of the club and I am gutted at this news, RIP Fred"



"Lovely man, with some very interesting stories to tell. Will be sorely missed by all at Hemel Hempstead FC and beyond.

Rest in peace Fred, a true Hemel legend."



"RIP Fred, it's the end of an era.