Colchester soccer stalwart Roy Rogers has died at the age of 64.

Known as Ginger because of the colour of his hair, Roy had been involved in the running of the Colchester and East Essex League - currently sponsored by Ke-Connect Internet - for more than 30 years.

A player with Wilson Marriage in his schooldays and then with Mary Magdalen, he joined the Colchester and East Essex League committee in 1968.

He became league secretary in 1974 and press officer in 1978, his reports on the league regularly appearing in the Evening Gazette for the next five years.

Roy was given the league's Award of Merit in 1991 and was appointed a life member at the start of the 1998-99 season.

He also played a big part in establishing the Colchester Sunday League.

Ke-Connect League spokesman Pat Maudsley said: "Roy loved his football at grassroots level. He would go and watch games every weekend and was well known by officials and players alike.

"His loss is everybody's in the Colchester and North East Essex footballing fraternity, his name known over the years by almost everyone concerned.

"Individuals like Roy don't come round very often but our league was fortunate to benefit from his knowledge, dedication and contribution to the game he loved."

Colchester Referees Society president Ernie Osborne added: "It was a pleasure to be on committees with Roy. After his family, his second love was always football.

"Very few people are givers rather than takers, but Roy was very much a giver. He was always willing to work and will never be replaced.

"The work he has done will live on forever".

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