TRIBUTES have poured in for a much-loved Kidderminster football manager and prize winning horticulturist who has died at the age of 81.

Family and friends of Graham “Chad” Chadbourne described him as a colourful character, practical joker and a “hero” who will be greatly missed by so many people from all walks of his life.

The father-of-three, who lived in Kidderminster with his beloved wife of 63 years Eunice, died after suffering a cardiac arrest earlier this month. A funeral service will be held at Wyre Forest Crematorium on September 15 at 11am.

After leaving school, Mr Chadbourne started working at Brintons Carpets and remained with the company for more than 40 years.

He soon started playing for and then running Brintons Football Club, alongside his best friend Terry Salters, who competed in the Kidderminster district leagues before eventually folding around 10 years ago – ending a 50 year association with the club.

And he developed a reputation for growing prize winning vegetables – particularly his shallots – which he would proudly display at Kidderminster Horticultural Society (KHS) shows. He later became an honorary member of the society.

Mr Chadbourne’s daughter Gail Loftus said her father had given her and her sisters Lynne and Joy a “childhood filled with many brilliant memories”.

She said: “He was a brilliant dad and a true family man. It seemed as if we had a famous father due to the football and gardening as you couldn’t walk through Kidderminster or Stourbridge without people stopping to chat to him. He was very generous too.”

Joy Taylor added: “Dad was a great practical joker. As kids, we got used to it and never batted an eyelid but he was always doing something. He was also very proud of his two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and they have many fond memories of ‘Gramps’ and his antics.”

Mr Salters said Brintons FC won the top division and the senior cup nine times each, amongst other trophies, with Mr Chadbourne at the helm.

He said: “He was Mr Brintons FC. He was ahead of his time in the way he built the teams and many players saw him as a second father.

“But he loved playing tricks. He was a big lad and as a player he would walk through the away team’s dressing room on his way to the pitch casually carrying a stretcher under his arm! We had many great years together.”

And KHS member John Lloyd said: “I met him at the allotments and he encouraged me to do the shows. We teamed up – I did flowers and he did vegetables – and we won many awards.

“He was a bundle of laughs and would help anyone. It seems strange to think he has gone.”