ONE of Herefordshire's best know faces in sport has died aged 84.

Tony Cole was a retired accountant, popular with the local farming community, he lived in Hereford and had an office in Bromyard.

His sporting life started in his home town, Presteigne playing for the local football team.

Later golf became his game, but he always loved football.

It was as a sporting administrator Cole will be most remembered.

He was treasurer of Hereford United’s Vice-Presidents’ club in, and was responsible for the ‘save our soccer’ campaign in 1982 when Hereford United was on the brink of going into administration.

He toured the country raising money to save the club. He was also one of the founders of the Herefordshire Youth Football League.

He joined Hereford Lions Club more than half a century ago, and his sporting pedigree came to the fore.

The club was twinned with the Lions Club of Vianen in Holland and he arranged for four teams of county schoolboys to compete in a Dutch international youth football tournament.

The teams, now including girls, still compete and often return home as champions.

Several of the boys went on to become professional footballers. When the tournament celebrated its 40th anniversary three years ago Tony was honoured with the Freedom of Vianen, the host city to mark his four decades at the games.

It was the first tournament he had missed over the years, due to his failing health.

His sporting prowess helped Hereford Lions raise lots of money for their charity fund, organising the annual boxing tournament and the popular racenight, horse racing on film.

Tony’s wife Rosemary passed away last October. He is survived by his two sons, Andrew and Michael, and three grandchildren, Lewys, Ella and Laura.