FORMER Hartlepool United chairman Harold Hornsey has died after a long illness.

Mr Hornsey, credited with saving the club after taking control in June 1994, passed away yesterday morning.

He sold the club to Increased Oil Recovery Ltd and current chairman Ken Hodcroft in 1997 but remained a director at Victoria Park.

On taking over from Garry Gibson as the club recovered from a financial crisis, he admitted: "I love Hartlepool United and if it had been any other scenario I would have pulled out long ago.

"I got involved because I couldn't stand the thought of the town without the football club. I suppose, ultimately, it is a tribal thing. Hartlepool is my town and my team, and it always will be."

The gently-spoken millionaire, who had businesses throughout the North-East in the retail and engineering sector, had been suffering from cancer, but was still a regular in the directors' box at Victoria Park.

Legendary Pool striker Joe Allon last night paid tribute to the 66-year-old, who lived in the town's Queenberry Avenue.

In 1997, Allon netted a vital winning goal at Darlington which went a long way to keeping Pool in the Football League and he said: "When I scored that goal I dedicated it to Harold because it helped to keep us in the League. If it wasn't for him, the club would have been out of business and out of the League.

"I would like to think of it as a fitting tribute to a real hero and a true gentleman.

"I was only talking about that goal and Harold with some supporters last week and this morning, before I knew of his death, I drove past his house after Frankie Baggs' funeral.

"Hartlepool United have sadly lost two legends in a short space of time. It's a very sad time.''

Mr Hornsey leaves a widow, Sheila, three sons, a daughter and seven grandchildren.

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