TOP football agent and Mudeford resident Dennis Roach has died at the age of 79.

Mr Roach was regarded as the first-ever football agent and had a high profile career spanning more than two decades.

He negotiated on behalf of the world's best-known players including Johan Cruyff, Glenn Hoddle, Mark Hughes, Terry Venables and Harry Redknapp.

And he was behind the world's first £1 million transfer fee when Trevor Francis moved from Birmingham City to Nottingham Forest in 1979.

Mr Roach started his career as a semi-professional player and was captain of Barnet FC while running his own furniture business in St Albans.

A chance meeting with Cruyff during a holiday in Portugal in 1973 changed his life and soon the furniture business had to take a back seat.

His son, Nicolas, told the Daily Echo: "Instead of coming home he flew to Barcelona with Johan Cruyff, negotiated his contract and invented the transfer fee.

"Within months his furniture business had been overtaken by global requests to represent players around the world."

Mr Roach went on to form the FIFA Association of Licensed Agents before his retirement in the 1990s.

Nicolas said his father was a well-known figure and received invitations from Prime Ministers and other leading figures around the world who owned football clubs.

He spoke several languages and dealt with many contracts involving South American football clubs.

Mr Roach and his wife, Janet, moved to Christchurch in 1969 and had a home in Bridge Street.

He bought the stunning Mudeford House in 1987 and restored the property before retiring there.

He recently returned from hospital after a short illness and died peacefully at Mudeford House on Thursday May 16.

Mr and Mrs Roach had two sons, Nicolas and Matthew, who are both chartered accountants. They and the couple's seven grandchildren all live in Mudeford.

A memorial service will be held at Christchurch Priory on Monday June 10 at 12.30pm for anyone who wishes to pay their respects.