A sports reporter who was "Mr Colchester United" has died at the age of 77.
Bernie Webber died of kidney failure just five days after his history of the football club, called The Way U's Were, was published.
Over a career in journalism stretching back to the 1940s, Bernie covered the U's for the Essex County Telegraph, was sports editor of the Essex Chronicle, and helped to launch the Colchester Express.
In his retirement he continued to report on the club as a freelance, and also retained a lifelong interest in Essex County Cricket Club.
Jean, his wife of 54 years, said: "The football club was Bernie's life. After we got married he went straight out to find out the match result that day, and he was at Layer Road when our daughter was born. He really was Mr Colchester United, right from the beginning.
"He was a terrifically kind man, and never had a bad word for anybody."
A statement from the club paid tribute to a man who "will live long in the club's annals of history".
"Bernie will be sadly missed by all at the club. Over the years, he had become a regular fixture at U's games and was a popular face amongst all who knew him."
Published Wednesday, October 6, 2004
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