TRIBUTES have been paid to a "larger than life" football club president, who died suddenly at the age of 62.

Tim Gooch, who suffered a heart attack, was a linchpin of Little Oakley Football Club and first joined the Memorial Ground side in 1983.

He became a key figure behind the scenes in their rise from the Essex and Suffolk Border League to the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League.

Mr Gooch was part of the club's committee that helped make extensive improvements and finance floodlights at the ground so they could progress to step six of the national non-league football pyramid.

"Tim joined us in 1983 when Jim Warnes was appointed manager and has been at the very centre of everything good about our club since," said Oakley chairman Michael Good.

"His legendary race nights were a small part of the endless fundraising he undertook for the club and everyone involved in local football will remember the hospitality and warm welcome he gave to visiting clubs over the years.

"He was a larger-than-life character in more ways than one and was also a keen supporter of many local charities.

"He was a big man with an even bigger heart and will be sorely missed by everyone who had the privilege to know him."

Mr Gooch's funeral will take place at 10.15am next Friday, January 22, at Weeley Crematorium.

It will be strictly private under the current restrictions.

Mr Good added: "Sadly, this means there will be hundreds of friends who would love to be there but are unable to attend.

"However, there will be an online webcast of the service, via www.obitus.com

"The username is Wusu4334 and the password 022044.

"A thanksgiving service and celebration of Tim's life will take place later in the year and we very much hope everyone will be able to come along and raise a glass to him.

"Until then, we would ask everyone who knew him to think of the big fella next Friday morning."

Mr Gooch, who died just before Christmas, lived in Little Oakley and, until retiring a couple of years ago, was a butcher based in Parkeston.

He was not married and does not leave any children.

He asked for any donations to be made to Diabetes UK.

Donations can be made online by using www.hunnaball.co.uk (follow the donations link) or sent to Geo. Paskell Funeral Service, 15 High Street, Manningtree, Essex, CO11 1AG.