Father-of-three Peter Haynes died of a heart attack minutes after playing in his first football match for his village.
Mr Haynes, who was just three days short of his 30th birthday, collapsed after the match between Hanney United and Childrey United at Childrey.
Hanney team mates said Mr Haynes, of Courtenay Road, Wantage, seemed fit and well during Saturday's match and gave a good performance in midfield.
Popular: Peter HaynesAfter the game he went with other players to the Hatchet Inn in Childrey, ordered a glass of cola and went to the toilet. Fellow players found him there about 15 minutes later.
Goalkeeper Simon Bunce, 33, from Mill Street, Wantage, said: "He was a quiet person and a genuinely nice bloke. He was a popular guy and although he didn't play that often, when he did he gave it his all.
"After the game I commented on how well he had played. He seemed fit and showed no sign of being out of breath. He did a lot of work in midfield and was still running after 90 minutes. I just couldn't believe it when I found out he had died. We are devastated."
Hanney United's manager, David Archer, 33, said: "Peter had a good game and we were impressed with his performance. We were looking forward to having him playing for the rest of the season. Everybody is very shocked."
Mr Haynes worked at Bookham Technology, at Milton Park, near Abingdon.
His wife Laura was too distressed to talk, but his sister, Jessica Rolls, of Willow Walk, Wantage, said: "He was a really loving and caring person who loved sport and being outdoors.
"He was a great father and a brilliant brother. Everyone who met him liked him instantly."
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