Dave Wedge, the Oxford United groundsman who died suddenly on Saturday, was one of football's unsung heroes.

A quiet man who never courted publicity nor sought praise, he was nevertheless fiercely proud of his work. Oxford United's pitch has always been among the top 10 pitches in the country.

Mr Wedge was 45 when he passed away. He was found collapsed at his home in Sandhills and was taken to the John Ratcliffe Hospital where he was pronounced dead. He had been off work recovering from a swollen leg and pressure blisters on his foot.

A post mortem proved inconclusive and further tests will be carried out. His death shocked colleagues and hundreds of United supporters.

Oxford United, and his family, were his life. He joined United on leaving school working as assistant to head groundsman Les Bateman.

He then worked as Mr Bateman's successor, Mick Moore, at the Manor Ground in Headington, near where he lived with his parents, Joyce and Peter, and brothers Stephen and Barry.

Mr Moore was an extrovert, so the contrast with his No 2, 'Wedgie', was marked. Mr Wedge was nevertheless someone who could be very funny.

And as a massive United supporter, he would get very worked up in matches, if a player fell short of expectations or a referee gave a ludicrous decision.

United's move to the Kassam Stadium in 2001 meant a big change, with a pitch made of grass reinforced by plastic, to withstand football one week, rugby the next.

Yet the rugby never came, and disagreements with stadium owner Firoz Kassam led to Mr Moore leaving in 2002.

'Wedgie' worked long hours to make sure the surface looked pristine. A few years ago Oxford United won the award for the best pitch in League Two, voted for by all the other clubs in the division.

A minute's silence will be held before Oxford United's home game on Saturday. Funeral details have not yet been announced.