Letchworth Garden City Eagles FC will be paying tribute to the club’s co-founder in a special match against Hitchin Town next week, which will also celebrate the installation of new floodlights.

The Comet: There will be a tribute match for Vince Paige, known to many as 'Mr Eagles', next Thursday.There will be a tribute match for Vince Paige, known to many as 'Mr Eagles', next Thursday. (Image: Archant)

Vince Paige – known as ‘Mr Eagles’ – helped found the club in 1979 and served as chairman and life president before his unexpected death on February 3, 2017.

Now, just over a year on, the club will hold a Vince Paige Trophy match in his memory next Thursday, February 22 – with a varied age group of Eagles playing games on the main Pixmore pitch prior to kick off with Hitchin Town FC.

Senior team manager Jason Valentine told the Comet: “It was a personal challenge of mine when Vince passed away that I would set up and annual game between us and other local teams – introducing the Vince Paige Trophy as a mark of respect and a way of remembering him.”

In recent years, Letchworth Eagles FC have taken strides in transforming from a successful local junior club to a major junior and senior club in Herts – with Vince himself playing an important role.

Chairman Tony Eden said: “Vince devoted a lot of his life to children and to the football club. He’s one of those people who gave more than he received back.

“The club itself grew from being a couple of teams and brought them to the point where we have for 450 children between the ages of five and 18, and three adult teams, and all of that grew from his stewardship. He was very much an active part of the club.”

The latest effort to fulfil Vince’s goal of expanding the club involved installing new floodlights, a project completed in October last year.

Eagles youth chairman Paul Scott added: “The club’s founder Vince Paige was keen to see youth progress to senior football at his beloved Eagles.

“His passion, motivation and reward was to see local children develop and enjoy themselves through football regardless of their ability.

“These developments will take LGCE FC to the next level and be a fitting tribute to Vince’s vision.”

Kick off for next Thursday’s match at the Letchworth pitches – opposite North Herts Leisure Centre in Baldock Road – will be at 7.30pm, with entry £3 or free for under 16s.