Mike McCullagh, the former chairman of Middlesbrough Football Club, has died aged 68.

Last night, one of his three sons remembered him as a man who had great passion for the area.

"He was born and bred in Middlesbrough and that is why he had such a passion for the area," said John McCullagh of his father.

Mr McCullagh, who died in the weeks following an operation to remove a brain tumour, founded Marske Machine Company, a small business, with his wife, Inge, and turned it into a multi-disciplined engineering company.

A director of Middlesbrough Football Club for 15 years, Mr McCullagh was chairman from the early to mid-1980s. He was also a member of the board of visitors to Holme House Prison and was recently appointed to the Cleveland Police Authority.

Mr McCullagh was also involved with the Department of Trade and Industry, serving on the regional selective assistance panel in Newcastle.

A devoted family man, he was a devout Roman Catholic and, with his wife, freely gave up his time as a support worker helping the sick and handicapped on the annual pilgrimage to Lourdes.

A lasting memorial to Mr McCullagh will be the Millennium Archway, which he designed for the people of Middlesbrough.

Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson said: "I liked Mike tremendously and he was always there for me. He was chairman at a very difficult time, but without him the club would have folded much earlier than 1986. Even after he left the board, he remained a keen supporter.

"He was a decent man, a family man, and very successful in business, as well as what he did for the football club. He will be much missed by all who knew him at the club. Our thoughts are with his wife, Inge, and their family."