TRIBUTES have been paid to Ernie Bennett, president of the Kent County Football Association for more than 20 years, who has died at the age of 87.

Mr Bennett was president and a trustee of Sittingbourne FC and a follower of Kent County League Milton Athletic, but he was also seen regularly around the clubs within the county. KCFA chairman Barry Bright, a director of the Football Association, said: "Kent Football has lost one of its greatest ambassadors.

"Ernie gave a huge portion of his life to the game he loved, and importantly he enjoyed every minute of it. He was held in the highest esteem wherever he went and carried the position of president with huge pride.

"Ernie strongly believed in the protection of our great sport in the truest amateur spirit and coupled such with a sense of fair play and sportsmanship. I will miss him immensely and am only pleased that he received Life Membership of the Association in the last year."

Keith Masters, chief executive of the KCFA, added: "His infectious enthusiasm made him a marvellous champion of Kent football. He was welcome wherever he went and enjoyed the after-match social banter as much as the game he had watched. He was a marvellous president and was a good friend to me."

Sittingbourne Football Club chairman Andy Spice added: "There is no better way to describe Ernie than an ambassador. He gave everything to football throughout Kent and anyone who is anyone in county football knew him.

"The last time I saw him a few weeks ago he looked poorly but was on at his wife, Stella, to get the radio tuned in so he could hear the local results. He was totally dedicated to football in Kent."

Mr Bennett's funeral will be held at Vinters Park Crematorium at Maidstone on Wednesday, March 20, at 10am.