Harold Cearns, the grandson of W J Cearns - the chairman of West Ham United between 1935 and 1950 - has died at the age of 85.
The Cearns family have a proud association with the club dating back to the Thames Ironworks FC and the subsequent formation of West Ham United in 1900. Born close to the Boleyn Ground in Plaistow, Harold was naturally a lifelong Hammers fan. Married to Jean in 1951, he was a proud family man with two children and two granddaughters.
His daughter Helen paid tribute to a World War II veteran who during his working life was a sales manager for a local timber company and who was the youngest of 12 children himself, with five brothers and six sisters. "He was very proud to be an avid supporter and part of the famous family heritage as all his family are," she said. "We will all miss him so much." The funeral for Harold Cearns was taking place on Wednesday in Shoeburyness, Essex.