A MUCH-loved and well-known Kendal football fanatic and plumber has died at the age of 60.

Neil 'Wakey' Wake, who was the assistant reserve team manager at Ibis Football Club, died on Thursday.

Mr Wake spent decades involved in local football teams as a player and a manager. His widow, Tina, said his favourite claim to fame was scoring a goal in the FA Cup while playing for Netherfield.

Although born in Gateshead, Mr Wake spent his early years on the move as his father was in the army, but on settling in the north west, he attended Longlands Boys School, which is now Queen Katherine School, Kendal.

He was the oldest of four children with siblings Karen, Dennis and Richard.

As soon as he was able to do so he trained as a plumber and spent his entire career in the industry. For large parts of his life he was self employed, but latterly he was a senior branch assistant at Graham Plumbers Merchant at Mintsfeet Industrial Estate.

He married his wife Tina in 1995 at Kendal's United Reformed Church. In all, they had been together 28 years, having met at the Ring O'Bells pub which was run by her family at the time. The couple had twin daughters together, Jessica and Georgia, who are now 21.

"To us, he was the most loving and the kindest man," said Mrs Wake. "He was a wonderful father and a wonderful husband.

"He will be desperately missed."

In addition to his family, his biggest passions were his cats, records and treasured family holidays to Florida. To many people though, Mr Wake will be remembered for his involvement in football – both locally and for his ardent following of Manchester United.

Mr Wake served as assistant at Ibis to reserve team manager Fred Dixon, who said his long-time friend would be a huge loss.

"He was a very big presence because of the kind of person he was," he said. "He was so passionate about all football.

"It was devastating news to hear and we cancelled our game on Saturday out of respect for him.

"It's a colossal loss to the club and for me personally. He was a good friend and he's been a really good hand to me in running the club."

Mr Wake's funeral will be held on at the United Reformed Church at Highgate on November 7 at 1pm. At 2pm there will be a service at Beetham Hall Crematorium. Mr Wake's family said both were open to anyone wishing to pay their respects.