TRIBUTES and respects are being paid to former Winsford United secretary and director Peter Warburton.

He died following a battle with cancer, aged 72.

The funeral for Peter, who left a wife, Madeline, and daughter, Tina, is at Winsford’s Salvation Army Christian Church, Weaver Street, on Tuesday at 11am, with a reception afterwards at Altrincham Football Club's J. Davidson Stadium.

Current Winsford secretary Bob Astles hailed the influence of ‘Mr Winsford United’ at the club.

“Peter was a real character,” he said. “Referees used to tell me how they judged their performance on the amount of abuse he gave them when they came off the pitch after a difficult game.

“The greater the abuse the better their performance. However, he would always be seen laughing and having a drink with them in the clubhouse afterwards.”

Former Winsford steel worker Peter spent the past 15 years as a volunteer at Altrincham Football Club.

He soon became a familiar figure at The J.Davidson Stadium on weekdays as well as matchdays.

Robins manager Lee Sinnott said: "Peter was a lovely man, very engaging and always ready with a smile and handshake whenever I walked through the door.

"He battled so hard with his illness, and in his heart, he really thought he had cracked it. What a terrible blow it was to hear it had come back.

"It’s just so sad."

Altrincham chairman Grahame Rowley added: "His smiling face is one of the things I will miss most.

"It didn’t matter what had happened in a game, or what the score was, he’d be there with a big beaming smile, then get on with whatever job he was doing.

"I can’t speak highly enough of him. He would be the face of Altrincham FC on matchdays, meeting and greeting visiting directors in suit and tie, then doing the dirty jobs in between, sweeping the main stand, cleaning the toilets and dug-outs and even turning his hand to welding.

"He was a lovely chap, a real club man, and he will be sadly missed by all of us."