The club paid tribute in a statement today (13 December) after Mr Cashman died of a "long battle" with illness on 28 November this year.

In the statement, Brentford FC said: "On Thursdays, he would appear at Brentford's Jersey Road training ground and spend time with the club's players and staff.

"A great listener, Stuart had some remarkable conversations over a cup of coffee. He was a kind, caring and empathetic man who instantly put people at ease.

"He was a comfort to all following the sudden and tragic death of Brentford's technical director Robert Rowan in November 2018, hosting a memorial service at Griffin Park.

"Stuart was full of wisdom, which is no surprise given the life he led.

it added: "Stuart fought hard to stay well for as long as he was able, and over the years overcame many life-threatening illnesses to be a devoted husband, father and friend.

"He will be sorely missed by all at Brentford; our thoughts are with Meriel, Zoë and Joel."

Stuart Cashman, born in Galashiels, Scotland, graduated from Trinity College, Oxford, with a first-class degree in chemistry in 1995.

After a brief career in London working on toothpaste, he transitioned to ministry at Duke Street Church, Richmond.

Mr Chapman and his wife, Meriel, spent two and a half years in the USA, where he earned a Master of Divinity from the Covenant Theological Seminary in St Louis, Missouri.

In May 2016, he planted Immanuel Church Brentford after serving as an associate pastor. Mr Chapman later became the pastor at Immanuel Church.

In an interview for Brentford's match day programme, Mr Chapman said: "I'm here for all faiths or none. I look to help people because football, like any walk of life, but perhaps more intensely so, is a place full of ups and downs.

"It doesn't matter to me whether people believe in God or not - if I can help them I will. While I'm a Christian minister, I'm there for anyone who wants to talk."

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