Former Oxford City manager and player Ian Rundle died in the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford yesterday. He was 67.

Rundle, of Howe Close, Wheatley, had recently undergone a double heart bypass operation.

A powerful defender, he began playing at the White House Ground while still at school, captaining Oxford Boys and then the Oxfordshire Youth team, and also played for the county senior side.

Following his time at City, he went to Wycombe Wanderers, where he played 357 games from 1965-74, and was a member of the squad which won the Isthmian Championship four times in five years.

He also played for Witney Town and Morris Motors.

Rundle had trials with Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich Town and Aston Villa, and may well have made the grade in the professional games but for an attack of meningitis when an 18-year-old, which kept him out of the game for a year.

When his playing career ended he managed Flackwell Heath, Oxford City and Bicester Town as well as being coach at Thame United.

He joined City as a scout in 1981 following the departure of manager Bobby Moore and his assistant, Harry Redknapp, teaming up with former Wycombe pals, manager John Delaney and John Maskell.

When Maskell became manager, Rundle stepped up to be assistant, before succeeding his old friend when he was sacked in 1984.

Rundle was City boss for three years, before resigning.

He returned to the game as youth team physio at Oxford United in 1989, and regularly followed City and Wycombe.

Tributes have been led by Maskell, who knew Rundle for around half a century.

He said: “He has been my best friend throughout that time.

“It is very sad because he was a unique guy really.

“He was one of those people during 50 years I never heard anyone say a bad word about Ian.

“He was a really nice fellow. Everyone he met liked hiim. He was very unassuming.

“On the lighter side he was not very friendly on the football field.

“He was quite strong and aggressive towards the ball, but that was the other side of his nature.

City manager Mike Ford said: “I spoke to Ian only last week, and I was shocked and saddened to hear that he’d passed away.

“He was a football man through and through. He loved his Saturday afternoons.”

Andy Lyne, who was assistant to Rundle at City, added: “I owe so much to Ian both on a personal and a football level.

“He and John Maskell gave me my first big break into local football management at Oxford City.

I learned so much about the game from Ian, he has always been my mentor, but more importantly he was a true friend who has always been there for me during difficult times.”

Rundle worked in administration, including as a clerk at the Oxford offices of the Ministry of Labour, and also at Rover Cowley.

He leaves two sons, Mark and Paul.