Eddie sadly died suddenly at the age of 69 on Saturday, February 17.

His family said he ‘unexpectedly passed away peacefully at home’ and that he was a ‘loving husband, father and grandfather’.

Paying tribute to Eddie, his family said: “He was one of a kind and lived his life to the full.

“Gone too soon but his legacy will remain through what he achieved in the world of property and Bournemouth football club.”

Eddie was known across Bournemouth and Poole for his work in the property business and for his ownership of the Cherries.

When he stepped down from this role in 2013, he was credited with ‘changing the face’ of Bournemouth.

He was chairman of the club between 2009 and 2013, after the club was taken over by a consortium including Eddie and Jeff Mostyn.

While chairman, the club rose from League Two to the Championship.

Eddie was also previously chairman of Dorchester Town FC and was also involved in Poole Town.

Outside of football, Eddie made his name in property, beginning as a hod carrier at the age of 16.

He built his first property in Sandbanks at the age of 24, his first on the peninsula, and went on to build more than 1,000 homes.

In 1992, Eddie established Seven Developments, which became well known for its Thunderbirds House.

Latterly, Eddie founded football skills equipment company, Elite Skills Arena, opening the UK’s first Technical Football Centre in Bournemouth.

The products were hugely successful, with the indoor football skills centre moving to Poole Retail Park during lockdown.

The equipment is used at St George’s Park, the headquarters of the England national football teams, with other professional teams, including Southampton FC, FC Barcelona and New York Red Bulls using it.

AFC Bournemouth said on social media: “AFC Bournemouth are saddened to learn of the passing of former owner and chairman Eddie Mitchell.”