AN INFLUENTIAL man on the Wyre Forest sports scene and a "champion of grass roots football" has died.
Roy Marchant was a player and referee in the Kidderminster and District Football League before helping run the competition and becoming president in June.
The 79-year-old, also a bowls and cricket enthusiast, leaves a wife, daughter and grandson.
He was the longest-serving officer in the league, filling the referee appointments secretary role for 34 years as well as being a Worcestershire FA director.
Marchant was also involved in charity cup competitions and was chairman of Kidderminster Referees' Association for 19 years.
League secretary Ernie Pyke said: "Roy was a brave man who would fight tooth and nail to further his beliefs and was proved correct on most occasions."
His funeral is at 1.45pm tomorrow at St Mary's Church, Kidderminster, with family flowers only but donations can be made to diabetes and arthritis groups.
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