TRIBUTES have been paid to a stalwart supporter of Malvern Town Football Club who has died after a battle with motor neurone disease.

Paul Pallett was a lifelong football fanatic and had been involved with the club since the late 1990s, serving as chairman, managing the reserves and helping to run both the youth and first teams.

He was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in July 2012 and passed away at his home in Clifford Close, Droitwich, on Friday, aged 70.

Mr Pallett was involved in football as a player, coach and referee. He was a member of the Worcester Referees Association and rose through the ranks to run the line at several Conference-level games, narrowly missing out on taking charge of matches in the Football League.

Even after he was diagnosed with the debilitating condition, Mr Pallett continued his involvement with football, running the reserves for another six months, and taking a final trip to see his beloved West Bromwich Albion only last month.

Having been a keen fundraiser for Malvern Town, Mr Pallett also started to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association after his diagnosis. He organised several events, including a charity football match at Malvern Town’s Langland Stadium last Christmas that raised more than £5,000.

His son Dan, a former reporter for our sister paper the Worcester News and now a BBC Midlands Today presenter, said: “He always lived life to the full and was positive in all he did. Even when he was diagnosed, he always said he had no complaints, that he had enjoyed 69 years of fantastic health and there are tragedies everywhere far worse than his own situation.”

Mr Pallett said his father had a great sense of fun and that motor neurone disease – which causes progressive weakness and difficulties with movement and speech – was probably the cruellest illness he could have suffered. “He loved his sport, being active, telling stories and being at the heart of it all,” he added.

As well as his love of football, Mr Pallett loved to play golf after retiring from a career in insurance with Prudential. Born in Birmingham, he moved to Worcester after marrying his first wife Jean, moving to Droitwich in the early 1990s.

Malvern Town players held a minute’s silence and wore black armbands at their home match on Wednesday.

Mr Pallett is survived by wife Jan, sons Dan, Sam and Ben and three grandsons.

His funeral is at Worcester Crematorium at 1pm on Friday, December 20, followed by a gathering at the Red Lion, Droitwich. Donations will be split between the Motor Neurone Disease Association and St Richard’s Hospice.

TRIBUTES VIA TWITTER

Lee Hooper: Sad news. Ex-chairman and one of the most generous, kind and friendliest men I ever had the pleasure of meeting.

Steve Brookes: RIP Paul Pallett. It was a pleasure playing for you twice. Top bloke!

Pat Grizzell: So sad. Such a lovely man. Thinking of his family at this time.

Droitwich Spa FC: RIP Paul Pallett. Absolute top man. Was great to have known him. Our condolences to his family.

Richard Jones: Football has lost one of its good guys. Paul Pallett was a great guy with a huge heart. Rest easy, mate, and thanks for everything.

Iggsy: RIP Paul Pallett #topbloke #legend #just genuinelyaniceguy.

Martin Cole: RIP Paul Pallett. Sent me off after 30 seconds playing for the Town. Got to know him better later in life.

Nick West: Thoughts with the family of great man, Double P. RIP.

Colin Brown: Was a pleasure running the reserves with you. A top bloke.

Ashley Banner: Top bloke, will be missed massively at Malvern Town.

Toni Craig Humphries: Everyone knows what a man he was! RIP see you on the other side PP.

Andrew Crowther: Rip Paul. Great bloke.

Joe Turner: RIP Paul Pallett, a top bloke!

Ed Lyons: Lucky enough to play under Paul Pallett for the youth and reserve teams and was always grateful for his support. Paul injected a contagious enthusiasm into the dressing room and always got maximum effort out of his teams. It was an honour to have known him and a privilege to be a part of the club while Paul was at the helm. RIP PP.

Dave Reynolds: Rest in peace PP.

Richard Goode: RIP Paul Pallett, true lover of football. Top man, top man.

Christopher Parish: RIP Paul Pallett.

Emma Nics: Mr Paul Pallett, I didn’t know you for long, but you were such a gent. Lovely, lovely man. Thoughts are with your family. Rest in peace.

Mark Scrivener: RIP Paul Pallett, top bloke and very nice guy.