COLNE Football Club has paid tribute to a former manager known as ‘the legend’ by naming a stand in honour of his contributions to the club.

Nigel Coates died in June of spinal cancer and his influence at the club was marked before last Friday’s friendly against Burnley with the unveiling of a stand named after him.

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This was accompanied by an on-pitch presentation by Colne honorary life president Dave Blacklock presenting a commemorative picture to Mr Coates’ family.

Mr Coates’ older brother, Brian, 69, from Alkincoats Road, Colne, said: “It was an emotional time for the family but it is something Nigel would have been proud of.

“It was fully deserved after 10 years dedicated service.

“He has established a platform for work at the club so they can build and progress.

“It was an incredible turnout as well with around 600 people at the game as well.”

Mr Coates is best remembered for his playing career at Colne Dynamoes as he helped and 10 years as manager of Colne FC during which he took the team to its highest finishing position in the NWCL Premier.

In October 2013, Mr Coates, from Rossendale Road, Burnley, stood down from his manager’s role with Colne FC.

Assistant secretary at Colne FC, David Priestley, believes Friday’s commemoration marked a fitting tribute to a great man.

Mr Priestley, from Wheatley Lane Road, Barrowford, said: “He was a strong personality, well respected, and a fairly quiet man of few words.

“But what he did say was sensible, and he always got the job done.

“His nickname was the legend, he did so much for the club.

“At his funeral lots of people from the club and non-league football came, it was like a who’s who of non-league football.”

During Mr Coates’ playing career as centre forward he set up the winning goal for the Colne Dynamoes in 1988 when the team beat Emley at Wembley in the FA Vase in front of thousands of fans from the town.

Dave Blacklock, who made the presentation to the Coates family, believes it was only fitting that Mr Coates would be honoured in such a way: The Colne FC honorary life president, 68, said: “The club needed to remember him, everybody thought that. He spent 10 years at the club and broke all sorts of records.

“It was just about finding the best and most long lasting way to pay tribute to an incredible man “I worked with him for many years and became great friends, it was a very sad loss for everybody.”