KINGHAM FC has paid tribute to Patrick O'Flanagan - a 'true legend' of football across West Oxfordshire - who died last month.

Mr O'Flanagan, who donated £10,000 for the team's new clubhouse and has volunteered for the club for many years, died after a long battle with illness on October 24.

The former referee and Oxfordshire FA councillor was buried in the village's churchyard yesterday overlooking the pitches so he could 'watch generations of players pull on a Kingham shirt and continue the legacy he helped to create.'

A memorial will also be built to him by the side of the pitch where he stood for many years encouraging and helping out with the village team.

A statement from the club read: "Patrick started his love affair with football when he joined his village football team, Kingham All Blacks.

"The more he played for the club, the more he fell in love with it.

"So much so that, not only did he want to play for them but he wanted to be part of the running of the club and joined the committee.

It added: "Patrick made many selfless acts, most recent of which was a few years ago when he donated £10,000 to Kingham to restore the tired club house. In his passing, we will be looking to name the building after him.

"Kingham All Blacks will be making a fitting tribute to someone who has shaped the club so much, by dedicating a memorial to him at the side of the pitch."

Over the weekend of October 29-30 all teams playing in the Witney and District league observed a minute's silence to the man who had been a stalwart of football in the area for many years.

The Witney and District FA paid tribute to Mr O'Flanagan and said: "Patrick was a tremendous servant to Kingham FC, the WDFA and the OFA.

"He worked tirelessly to help others get a game of football, whether it be young kids at Kingham, the men at the WDFA who he refereed for many seasons, or the over 35s for whom he was instrumental in the Veteran's Cup.

"Our thoughts and best wishes go to his family and many friends."

Mr O'Flanagan was also a referee in the area and was manager and chairman of Kingham All Blacks, a committee member of the Witney and District FA and also an Oxfordshire Football Association Councillor.