´óÏó´«Ã½

Tributes have been paid to the co-owner and director of Crawley Town FC who has lost his battle against cancer.

Bruce Winfield, died at St Catherine's Hospice in Crawley on Monday, the club said.

It said Mr Winfield was a lifelong fan who had made an important contribution to Crawley's current success and would "be sadly missed by all".

Earlier in the year Crawley became the first non-league team for 17 years to reach the last 16 of the FA Cup.

Crawley Town said in a statement: "Everyone at Crawley Town Football Club is devastated by this sad news.

"Bruce has been associated with the football club for over 50 years as a lifelong supporter and later as an important figure in revitalizing the club's fortunes and will be sadly missed by all."

It continued: "God Bless you Bruce, the family that is Crawley Town Football Club, will miss you more than words can ever say."

Crawley MP Henry Smith said: "This is a sad loss for Crawley, yet we are grateful for the memories and inspiration Bruce Winfield has given to our town."

In February, thousands of Crawley Town football fans watched their team lose narrowly to Manchester United in the FA Cup.

About 9,000 fans of the Blue Square Bet Premier club saw the Premier League leaders win 1-0 at Old Trafford.

In the Sussex town, the borough council put up six lamppost banners along the Boulevard in support of the team.