TRIBUTES have been paid to the “driving force” of Rayleigh football.

Dennis Clarke, who led Rayleigh Town Football Club to Essex Olympian League success four times in seven seasons, died after a short illness, aged 72.

He would also prove to be an influential figure to hundreds of young players, after he and wife Val founded Rayleigh Boys Football Club.

His expertise as a manager was honed from his playing days forged in amateur football during the Sixties.

Starting out at Walthamstow Avenue, before transferring to Sutton United, Dennis graced the old Wembley Stadium in 1969 after his side reached the Amateur Cup Final, losing 3-1 against North Shields.

The following year saw him and his team-mates appear on TV screens across the country, as they took on Leeds United, who were then widely regarded as one of Europe’s top sides, in the FA Cup fourth round.

Family and work commitments meant he dropped down a few levels to play football in south Essex, and take Rayleigh to league success and two Essex Intermediate Cups.

Dennis would go on to serve both as chairman and president of the club.

Former team-mate and the club’s honorary secretary, David Medlock remembers Dennis as a “hard- tackling full-back” who would prove an influential figure in south Essex football.

He said: “It’s very sad, because we knew he was ill, but we didn’t realise his condition was so bad.

“He stopped playing at 33 because he wanted to give an opportunity to the young players he had signed up.

“That says so much about him, he loved his football, and he loved to help young players.

“He was held in the highest affection by all who knew him and played for him.”

Dennis’s funeral will take place at 12.40pm on Wednesday, November 2 at Southend Crematorium, in Sutton Road.