John Fosbraey’s former team-mate and flatmate Ben Claypole has paid tribute to the ex-Brondesbury captain, who died from cancer last week at the age of 38.

‘Fos’ joined the Harman Drive club in 2003 and was a key member of the team that won the Premier Division title in the Middlesex County League that year.

He took over 30 wickets that summer – recording figures of 5-61 on his debut against Southgate and taking 6-51 against Richmond – and went on to have two spells as captain, leading a return to the top flight with a promotion in 2013.

Claypole played with Fosbraey between 2003 and 2007, and the pair shared a flat together in Weech Road in West Hampstead for a year.

“John used to be my bowling partner – me providing the fast bowling from one end and him the spin at the other,” said Claypole.

“What I will specifically remember him for is being the perfect candidate for the spirit of cricket. No matter how tough the games got or what position we were in, he was always a fair guy and played the game in the spirit that it should be played in. That was why he was such a fantastic member of the MCC.

“He was always a kidder and a joker on and around the ground and a fantastic representative for Brondesbury.

“He always did the right thing by the club, always played his hardest, but he was always the last drinking at the bar as well – usually with the opposition, which was not always easy to do after some of the fiery games that happened in the Middlesex League.

“Once I left the club and finished up with cricket, he continued on and captained the side and he was probably the ideal captain – not so much for the playing side but for his ability to gather troops together, to get people to play in the spirit that the game should be played in, and also to bring the best out of every player that was there.”

Claypole went on: “We always used to have a competition of University Challenge on a Tuesday night, to see who could get the most questions right.

“One day he got all three questions in a round correct and was dancing around the room. A couple of hours later I found out that it was a repeat and he’d already seen it the day before! He didn’t let that slip until I saw it on the TV Guide. That was the kind of guy that John was.”