HITCHIN Town Football Club is mourning the loss of one of its most respected supporters. Former Canaries chairman Gerald Lincoln, who was associated with Top Field for more than a quarter of a century, has died after a short illness. He was 65. A keen spo

HITCHIN Town Football Club is mourning the loss of one of its most respected supporters.

Former Canaries chairman Gerald Lincoln, who was associated with Top Field for more than a quarter of a century, has died after a short illness. He was 65.

A keen sportsman and businessman, Mr Lincoln was chairman at the club from 1984 to 1989.

For many years Mr Lincoln ran his chartered surveyor's practice in Bucklersbury in Hitchin, along with his wife Bernadette. He retired in 1999 and divided his time between Britain and Ireland.

Mr Lincoln was also a member of Stevenage Hockey Club where he played into his late 50s. He was also an active member of Letchworth Lawn Tennis Club. His association with Hitchin Town began in the 1950s as a young supporter and he is thought to have been the club's youngest ever chairman. In recent years he made a vast contribution to the club in the form of the Hitchin Executive Club.

This week Hitchin Town chairman Terry Barratt paid tribute to Mr Lincoln saying: "Gerald was a man of great integrity and was respected for his professional and forthright manner.

"He will be greatly missed and we are all thinking of his family and close friends at this moment."

Mr Lincoln's funeral was scheduled to be held at Luton Crematorium this morning (Thursday) and a reception was held afterwards at Hitchin Conservative Club.