'Keith wanted what was best for cricket - and he made it better...'

TRIBUTES have been paid to former North Staffs and South Cheshire League manager Keith Tunnicliffe, who has passed away at the age of 78.

- Chris Travers

Tunnicliffe provided more than half-a-century of service to sport across the area - and it wasn’t just cricket in which he played a significant role.

In a career which took in football, cricket, basketball, boxing and table tennis, the high point was at Crewe Alexandra's Gresty Road ground on November 18, 1989.

Tunnicliffe’s Congleton Town, who were in the Northern Premier League, had reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history.

A creditable 2-0 defeat was the outcome for the Bears against their professional rivals, but Tunnicliffe, once admitted it was his proudest moment.

"The game was goal-less until midway through the second half, but in the end our inexperience showed,” he said.

“We had a good side in those days, and the chairman, Paul Warren, was absolutely fantastic.

“That day at Crewe is something which no-one can ever take away from me. You suffer disappointments in sport, but you still have the memories.”

Tunnicliffe, from Newcastle, started his football life as a trialist at Manchester City in the early 1960s and featured in several Central League matches at fullback before his release.