AFC Bournemouth has sent condolences to the family and friends of former Cherries player Billy Coxon, who died last week, aged 84.

Outside-left Billy, who had one of the hardest shots in football, had been suffering with Dementia.

He signed for the club in November 1958 and featured prominently as they went close to winning promotion to the second tier for the first time in their history in 1961-62.

Born in Derby, he started out with his hometown club before moving to Ilkeston where he was spotted by scouts from Norwich.

He made 105 appearances and scored 26 times for the Canaries before moving to Dean Court following a brief spell with Lincoln.

Also comfortable at left-back, he created numerous chances for the likes of Dickie Dowsett and Mike Burgess and also played in the famous League Cup wins over Cardiff in 1961-62 and Newcastle in 1963-64.

He netted 37 goals in 200 games in the Third Division before moving to Poole Town in June 1966.

He also served Parley Sports as player-coach and was a local hotelier and taxi driver before moving back to Derbyshire with wife Freda in 1999.

Nephew Leigh Phillips, who also played for Poole Town, told the Daily Echo: "My uncle told me many times how he once knocked out a goalkeeper with one of his penalties. It was the heavy leather ball with laces in it!"