A STALWART of Worcester sport who worked in the community for more than five decades has died at the age of 74. 

Tim Phillips was a secretary of the Worcester and District League and a referee for more than four decades. 

As well as football, Mr Phillips was also involved in local cricket and was a life member of Worcestershire County Cricket Club.

Worcester and District Football League posted a heartfelt tribute on social media which said: "Tim will be missed by so many.

"He had a positive impact on the league and in particular during his tenure as league secretary, where he led and delivered various initiatives to keep the league current and up with the times.

Worcester News:

"Tim will be greatly missed and our deepest condolences go out to his family at this difficult time."

Steve Winfield was among a number of people who paid tribute to him on the post writing: "RIP Tim - a complete local legend and such a great guy."

All clubs involved in the league gave an emotional tribute with the holding of a minute's applause before their games last Sunday.

Jeff Widdett, vice chairman of the league, said: "He has served on the Worcester league for probably more than 20 years. Everybody knew him.

"Rather than a minute's silence, he wanted the minute's applause at games."

BBC Hereford and Worcester's Dave Bradley wrote in his latest column for this paper: "I was saddened to hear of the passing of another good chum.

"Tim Phillips will be known to many involved in sport in Worcester, having done a vast amount of work in local cricket and football, on and off the field.

"People seem to think referees are boring old fools with poor eyesight, but nothing was further from the truth when Tim was around.

"Some of our social events were, shall we say, a bit riotous."

Tim has featured numerous times in the Worcester News over the years, including in 2010 when he recalled going to all England's games at Wembley during the 1966 World Cup.

READ MORE: Worcester football figure recounts his memories of 1966

Speaking about the win in the final, the Tottenham Hotspur fan told us: “It was the greatest day of my life at the time.

"I have always got that memory that I was there when England won the World Cup."

Tim, who lived in St John's, is survived by wife Sue and his three children.

Funeral details are yet to be announced.