The family of a man with a ‘huge personality’ who was involved with Stevenage FC for almost half a century have paid tribute to him.

The Comet: Jim Briscoe at his 90th birthdayJim Briscoe at his 90th birthday (Image: Archant)

Jim Briscoe – the football club’s supporters’ association president – died last week at the age of 90, following a gradual deterioration of health.

He moved to Stevenage Old Town in 1968, where he remained for the rest of his life, and became involved with the club straight away.

Prior to his move to the town, Mr Briscoe lived in Ramsgate in Kent, where he was instrumental in bringing the Rolling Stones to the seaside town in 1964 for a gig.

Speaking about her father on behalf of the family, Linda Plant said: “Jim was this big chap with a huge personality who has mixed with peers of the realm, MPs, pop stars, authors and sporting personalities during his full and colourful life, but to us at home – me the eldest, then Lloyd, and our younger brother Russell – he was just dad, who could drive our late mum Mary up the wall.

“He would constantly get everyone’s names wrong except mine – he called me Tish, never Linda, despite giving me my name! He had lots of little and sometimes annoying idiosyncrasies that made dad who he was.

“His sense of humour and Yorkshire wit was legendary, and when he started laughing his whole body would shake and the tears would come. We shall miss this, like we will miss the loud debates we had, whether it was politics, religion, sport or royalty, he had strong views on every topic and we loved to ‘get him going’. “Then he suffered a stroke, and a lot of the fire went out of him, but there was still the wink and the wry sense of humour. He survived our mum by five years – they had celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary in 2005.

“We have been overwhelmed by the affectionate tributes that have been paid to him locally, from Ramsgate in Kent and from Yorkshire – this man who’s middle name should have been ‘chuffin’!

“Our dad was a ‘one-off’, and for us and his grandchildren Laura, Melissa, Michael, Adam and Sam, our world is a much dimmer place without him in it.”

A minute’s silence was held before yesterday’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy game between Stevenage FC and Gillingham in Mr Briscoe’s memory.

His funeral is taking place at Harwood Park Crematorium in Stevenage at 4.15pm on Tuesday, September 9.

Flowers are welcome but donations can be made to the Stroke Association via Austin’s Funeral Directors on 01438 316623.