Former Chelmsford City defender Joe Elvin died last week, aged 83, and on Sunday, the club's former secretary, Len King, also died, aged 87.

Joe was also well- known for his longstanding associations with Rainsford Youth Centre and Broomfield Youth Centre.

Born James, but rarely called by his christened name, Joe was raised in Middlesex, but when his job took him to Essex, he played for Chelmsford City, mainly in the reserves, during the late 1940s and early 1950s, alongside the likes of Len Galley, Cliff Eaton and Kenny Brewer.

He was also recognised as a top athlete, and was the Middlesex Athletic Champion during the late 1930s, and later became a member of Chelmsford Athletics Club.

After leaving City, Joe was player/coach at Maldon Town and he then held a similar post at Sudbury Town.

One of his four sons, Stuart, recalled a Sunday League match, when Joe and three of his sons played in the same side.

"Dad, who was then 50 years old, played at centre half, although it was against our late mother, Edna's wishes, as she thought he was too old to be turning out to play football on a Sunday."

Stuart added: "Two of my brothers, Richard who played in goal and Jimmy, a defender, and myself, a centre forward, were also playing, so four members of the family were in the same team."

The funeral service for Joe will be at Chelmsford Crematorium on Wednesday (January 19) at 10.15am.

Len King was the club's full-time secretary during the late 1960s and early 1970s when City were challenging for a place in the then Football League.

He died suddenly on Sunday.

The funeral service for Mr King takes place at the Chelmsford Crematorium on Thursday, January 27 at 2.45pm.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.