FORMER Worcestershire Football Association chairman Richard Bannister has died aged 82.

Mr Bannister, who spent 18 years as chairman from 1974-92, devoted a lifetime to sport and football in particular.

Known to everyone as 'Dick', he was born in Hagley but his family moved to Blakedown when he was three years old.

Thus began a long-standing connection with the village. He was secretary of Blakedown Football Club for 25 years.

A committee member of the Kidderminster Football League, he was a member of the Worcestershire FA from 1964, and was proud to be appointed as a member of the Football Association Council from 1990-92.

He was elected president of the Kidderminster League in 1986, a position he held until June of this year, and was made a life member of the league in 1993.

He also received the Football Association Merit Award for 50 years service to the game.

An Old Boy of King Charles I Grammar School in Kidderminster, he was a member of the Old Carolians Association.

Dick was also a vice-president of both Kidderminster Cricket Club and Kidderminster Carolians Rugby Club.

He is survived by his wife, daughter and two sons.

The funeral is at Worcester Crematorium on Friday (August 23) at 2.30pm.