One of Cornwall's most decorated football managers has died after losing his battle with cancer.

Trevor Mewton, who had successful spells at a host of clubs including Falmouth Town, St Blazey, Penzance, Newquay and Foxhole, passed away at his mid-Cornwall home this morning.

Falmouth manager Andrew Westgarth, a good friend of Trevor who played for him at Penzance, said: "I'm deeply saddened with the news of Trevor passing. A giant of the game and to have achieved what he has will never be beaten.

"To be successful at one club is hard enough but to do it at every club he has been at, speaks volumes of the man.

"His ability to build a team, not just 11 players but a squad, backroom staff, empowering players with the belief they are good enough to win and creating an environment to be successful was his strength.

"I have taken so much from him as a person and his blue print into management. If I could achieve a taste of what Trev had I would be a proud man.

He added: "I had the privilege and honour of been one of the lucky ones to have played for him, called him a coach, mentor and most of all a friend. He will be greatly missed. Such a loss to Cornish football but most of all his friends, Jill and family."

Mewton, who was in his 70s and lived in Fraddon with his wife Jill, won the South-Western League on numerous occasions with Newquay during the 1980s, before another profitable spell at Falmouth Town in the early 1990s.

He later won no fewer than seven league titles in nine years with St Blazey in the early 2000s, as well as numerous cups.

Dave Ball, the former Falmouth manager who played under Trevor at Newquay in the 1980s, said: "He was massively passionate about the game. He was ahead of his time in many ways, because his attention to detail was immense.

"If he'd lived somewhere other than Cornwall, I've no doubt he would have worked his way up the ranks as a manager.

Mark Vercesi, who played for St Blazey and later Penzance in league title-winning seasons under Mewton, added: "Trevor set standards that were second to none which gave me my most enjoyable years in football.

"He was an extremely loyal man who became a very good friend. He should be remembered as an absolute legend of the Cornish game, but to me I will remember him as a true gentleman.

"He would do anything for you. At the end of one season he organised a team trip to Fuengirola in Spain, where he had a holiday home. Around 20 of us went on it and he was out with us every night. He was like our tour guide, it was brilliant."