TRIBUTES have been paid to a much-loved father and grandfather ahead of a charity football much in his honour.

Graham Main, 66, from Benfleet, sadly passed away last year after a sudden cardiac arrest.

In his younger years he played throughout south Essex, including at Wakering Rovers, Basildon United as well as playing for Tilbury and Dagenham.

After hanging up his boots, he went on to coaching youths teams and was well known in the area.

His wife, Michelle Main, 56, said his passing was devastating but the family wanted to organise a charity match in his memory.

The football match will be on Saturday, June 8, at Burnham Ramblers FC, and the family are inviting anyone who played alongside Graham to come along.

Echo: Football - Graham Main, top right in the goalkeeper top, playing for WakeringFootball - Graham Main, top right in the goalkeeper top, playing for Wakering (Image: Family handout)

The event will be raising money for the British Heart Foundation.

Michelle said: “As we have passed his one-year anniversary, we wanted to organise a charity memorial match in his memory.

“Graham was a goalkeeper for many local teams. He was a right character and was well-known in the community as we had more than 300 people come to his funeral.

“His passion was football, whether that was watching, playing, coaching, he just loved it. Football was his life.

“But he was an amazing dad too and had time for everyone.”

Graham was a dad to three children, David, 40, Jack, 31, and Jess 29.

David and Jack will each lead the two teams out and go head-to-head against each other in the charity match in honour of their “competitive” dad.

Michelle added: “Both my boys are going to have a team each other and play against each other so it will be competitive.

“He was an old school football manager, he was tough, but they all loved him. It was his passion, he put a lot of effort in coaching kids.

“Graham had a cardiac arrest with no warning, it was such an awful shock for us all. So, we hope raising money for the British Hearth Foundation would benefit a lot of people.”

For details, visit facebook.com/events/s/football-charity-match-family-/393278000216251/