TOUCHING tributes have been paid to a long-standing and much loved Canvey Football Club fan... who was so loyal she was gifted a life-long season ticket.

The club paid tribute to Shirley Liston, 78, affectionately known as Stix. She died after a battle with illness.

Shirley was a regular fixture on the terraces at Canvey’s Park Lane ground, as well as travelling on away days to offer her avid support to the club.

Her dedication to Canvey Football Club was marked by the club in 2016 when she was awarded a life-long season ticket when the new clubhouse opened.

More than 100 people responded to the club’s social media pages when it posted the news of her death.

Shirley’s daughter, Donna Bennett, also took to Facebook describing her mum as “beautiful, strong and a queen”.

She said: “It is with a broken heart I am writing this, our beautiful, strong, queen of a mummy sadly yet peacefully passed away last night. Our lives will never be the same again without her, reunited with our dad, sleep well darling.”

A spokesman for Canvey Football Club said: “We are sorry to report that long-standing Canvey Island supporter Shirley Liston has sadly passed following a period of illness.

“Shirley, or Stix as she was affectionately known, followed the Gulls home and away for many decades, so much so that she was given a lifelong season ticket in recognition of her support.

“She will be sadly missed at the club and our thoughts go out to her family at this sad time.

“RIP Shirley.”

A host of tributes quickly followed on the club’s Facebook and Twitter pages as friends and acquaintances remembered her,

Jack Pitty said: “Such sad news. Supported us home and away no matter where it was.

“A real loyal supporter and lovely lady.”

The Canvey Ultras fan page added: “It is hard to comprehend we won’t see her anymore.

“Always a constant at every game and a wonderful person.”

Fan Chris Smith said: “Really devastated to hear this.

“What a lovely lady Shirley was. She always took the time to speak with myself and granddad.

“She will be sorely missed.”

Twitter account funkygibbo123 added: “Very sad news.

“What a wonderful person she was and always had a smile.

“What she didn’t know about football wasn’t worth knowing.

“I have known Shirley since I was a young boy and had the pleasure of always having her as a friend.”