DEVOTED Cherries fans and life-long friends gathered to celebrate the life of a man not only known for his "considerable ability" to take photographs but his warmth and endless adoration for his club.

Tributes were paid to Mick Cunningham, Cherries photographer for over 20 years until his departure in 2013, who died aged 55 on September 27 after falling ill during the away game at Stoke City.

Friends, family and club officials hosted the special memorial service at the Vitality Stadium to pay their respects and remember some of their fond memories.

Mick's older sister Alison said: "There's so many people. Just having everything we have read on social media is so heart-warming. We have learned so much as a family that we didn't know and it really helps at a time like this. You never make sense of it but it helps to see who Mick was."

Wayne Ford had known Mick for over 20 years and had commissioned him as his wedding photographer. He helped organise the memorial and passed on messages from other Cherries supporters.

"It was the least we could do," he said. "We have got a Facebook page in memory of him called 'Taking the Mick'. It's for people to put up their memories."

Andy Rimmer, club chaplain, led the memorial and said he'd remember Mick for his "amazing smile and slightly bonkers feel that he had to life as he carried his camera onto the pitch."

"It's a real sense of shock that has engulfed us in many ways and we all have our stories," he said. "He touched many, many people. We miss him, not just as a member of the club with his son, but as a dad, a brother, son, colleague and band member.

"He was the only man who can take a photo of a goal while punching the air at the same time. He wasn't perfect as none of us are but he loved people. Today is a great opportunity to work out the logo we have at the moment which is 'together anything is possible'. Thank God for Mick."

A private funeral service was also held earlier in the day at Bournemouth Crematorium.

A former Oakmead School pupil, Mick spent almost 16 years with the RAF as a supply manager before taking on a wide-ranging media role with Cherries, which included editing the matchday programme, photographing games and interviewing players for the website.

He leaves behind 19-year-old son Liam, as well as his dad and two sisters Lesley and Alison.