A POPULAR face at Oxford United and a Marston primary school will be remembered as “our lovely lady”.

Linda Hackett died on Friday following a battle with cancer that lasted 15 years.

The 54-year-old, from Sandford-on-Thames, was well known in the office at St Michael’s Primary School in Marston Road and as the mother of former Oxford United winger Chris Hackett.

During her son’s time at the club she was a constant figure in the press box, serving tea to the journalists and cheering on the team the whole family supported.

Her widower Andy said: “I think all we would like to say as a family is to thank everybody who has paid tribute to her.

“We are just slightly numb at the moment, but it is just fantastic to hear so many people have taken the time to pay tribute.

“We called her our lovely lady.

“She was fighting cancer for 15 years. She had her initial treatment 15 years ago, another treatment five years ago, and then this year she had a recurrence, so she has been fighting this for some time.

“It hadn’t taken over her life, she just got on with things — that was the person she was.”

St Michael’s School headteacher Sue Grundy said: “All who have known Linda have a great story to tell about the way in which she would always go out of her way to ensure that she could help others.

“She has been a great colleague and friend and will be missed by all who knew her.”

Oxford United photographer Darrell Fisher said: “She would always greet you with a kiss and a hug. She was just a lovely lady.

“She was nice to everybody.”

Club spokesman Chris Williams said: “Linda was not only a friend but also an inspiration to all of us at the club. She was always around, always a fan, always smiling, and for many years helped us in the press area for home games.

“She would often travel on the supporters’ bus or go with fellow fans to away games — she was the proudest person in the ground whenever Chris played for the team.”