Alan Marsh was a reserve player with Exeter City in the early 1950s before playing for Bideford for many years where he won the Western League. Later a successful manager of Heavitree United, he was also a prominent cricketer with North Devon and Sidmouth. 

A member of Exeter City's first FA Youth Cup team in 1952/53, he appeared for the reserves in the Southern League in the same season and signed professional in July 1953. Although he was soon to undertake National Service with the army at Devizes, he continued to make regular reserve team appearances through to 1957 initially as a forward and then as a full-back.

After such a long period turning out for City's second and third strings, he now sought first-team football and signed for Western League Bideford on semi-professional terms where he made over 350 appearances and was part of the side that won the Western League in 1963/64. Having previously played cricket for Sidmouth, and by now working in North Devon alongside playing for Bideford, he temporarily switched his cricketing allegiance to the Instow-based North Devon club. 

Eventually finishing with Bideford, he moved back to East Devon and managed Heavitree United to the Exeter and District League title in 1970/71, took charge of Sidmouth Town for a while and played for and umpired the town's cricket team for many years.   

Having Worked in Ottery St Mary, Alan died at the age of 85 in July 2020.