YEP says: Volunteers are the backbone of local sport and supporters' clubs

There are few people these days - or those days - willing to give up so much of their time to help others.

His efforts did not go unnoticed and the tributes rightly came pouring in following his death last Friday afternoon.

As a nation we rely so much on the goodwill of people to help keep sport - particularly amateur sport - going. No clubs, be it the local cricket ground or a junior football team, would exist were it not for dozens of people volunteering to give up their time and experience to help run the clubs. It could be collecting the subs, refereeing a game, coaching on a cold wet Thursday tea time, making the teas, organising the transport, washing the kit, or keeping the books. This is unpaid work, and often thankless, and increasingly beset by red tape and administration.

Without these local heroes such clubs would not exist.

So thanks to Eric and to all who help keep supporters teams and local teams going. We salute you.