A MAN, who did a huge amount for Craven football, has died - on the day after his 85th birthday.

Allan Cawood was known across the district not only for his work with the Craven and District Football Association, but also for his efforts on behalf of the Skipton branch of Parkinson's UK.

"He was a tireless worker," said Parkinson's treasurer Gill Wiseman. "Nothing was too much trouble. He was always the first to arrive and the last to leave. You could always rely on Allan.

"He was well-known in the town and everyone respected him."

Allan suffered a great deal of tragedy in his early life, losing his mother at the age of five and his father - who had remarried - at the age of 11.

He and his older sister Joan were brought up by their stepmother, Margaret, and following an air raid in York, the family moved to Earby.

Margaret also remarried, but her happiness was short-lived as her new husband died in 1945. When Margaret also passed away, Allan went to live with his sister and her husband, Bob.

Later, Allan got a job in the cost office at Armoride and met his future wife, Brenda Core. They married in November, 1953, and their daughter, Sheila, was born in 1962.

By then, Allan was working for the Yorkshire Electricity Board in Skipton, but he and Brenda decided to buy the newsagents on Sackville Street, Skipton, where they lived until 1973. He then became office manager for Osborne Best in Skipton until the firm the closed down.

Despite being born with one eye, Allan took an interest in football, establishing a junior league in West Craven in 1948 and becoming a referee in Craven in the early 1950s.

He also served as secretary of the Craven Referees Society and secretary and president of the Craven Football Association. He also helped to re-establish a junior league in Craven.

"He wanted everything done right," said friend Peter Marsden, who is also a stalwart of Craven football. "He was brilliant to work with and what he did for football in Craven was incredible.

"He didn't look for praise at all; he just liked the job and he was very, very popular with the clubs. He talked a lot of sense. He was a true gentleman and he will never be forgotten. I am glad to have known him."

After his late wife was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, Allan became involved with the local support group and was instrumental in raising money for a specialist Parkinson's nurse for the area.

Allan wanted his epitaph to be "I always tried to do my best for people."

A funeral service will be held at Skipton's Holy Trinity Church next Thursday, November 13, at 12.45pm. He is survived by his daughter, Lesley, and son-in-law Roger Pyne.