MARTIN O'Connell, who has died aged 75, was the former team manager of Kidlington 1st Football Club.

At the age of 15, he became the first and only local boy to captain the England Schoolboys XV rugby team but also excelled in cricket, athletics and football.

Born and raised in Oxfordshire, his family and friends saw his greatest achievement as being on the rugby field.

As he grew older he started managing smaller football teams in his hometown Kidlington.

Mr O'Connell, who was born to parents Patrick and Winifred, had three sisters, Margaret, Eileen and Angela, and the family grew up in Kidlington.

He was described as one of Oxfordshire's "most versatile and successful schoolboy sports stars" as he excelled at football, rugby, cricket and athletics.

In 1956, in his last year at Gosford Hill School, Kidlington, 15-year-old Martin became the first and only Oxfordshire boy to captain the England Schoolboys XV.

Playing as fly half, he led England into an early three-point lead against Wales at Bristol, but his team lost by 18 points to six.

He also appeared in his school's rugby team, the cricket team, and represented them in the athletics team in the discus and shot-put.

When he made his international rugby appearance his father and sisters went along to watch him but his mother stayed at home, as he said she was probably afraid he would get hurt.

A jack of all trades, he was equally impressive as a centre forward on the football field and captained the school side.

He scored one of the goals when Gosford Hill won the Bob Gray Cup 2-1 over favourites Cheney School.

After leaving school, Mr O'Connell started an apprenticeship with TH Kingerlee, the Oxford builders, and opted to play football for Kidlington – there was no rugby club in the village then.

As he grew older, he continued developing his love of sport and was manager of local village Sunday side The Six Bells in Kidlington, and then went on to be manager at Kidlington Football Club in the Hellenic League.

In March 2016 pupils and staff at Gosford Hill School unveiled a plaque in honour of Mr O'Connell, which celebrated his rugby achievements.

Mr O'Connell died after a short battle with illness on Wednesday, May 11.

A funeral service will take place at St Mary's Church, Kidlington, on Friday June 3 at 2pm. Family flowers only.