TRIBUTES have been paid to a 'genuine' and 'selfless' amateur football player who dedicated the majority of his 40 years to football in the county.

Lee Jenkinson, from Whitehaven, who was known affectionately by many as Bazza or Baz, died earlier this week.

He had spent the majority of his 40 years involved in football within the county playing for teams including Whitehaven Amateurs JFC, St Bees (Saturday and Sunday), Whittington Cat, FC Cosmos, Cleator Moor Celtic Veterans and still playing for Moor Row Veterans and Whitehaven Miners Social FC.

In conjunction with Whitehaven Miners and with his family's wishes, The Cumberland County League, The West Cumberland Sunday League, and The West Cumbria Youth Football League will hold a period of applause before games this weekend (November, 2 and 3).

As well as playing football, Lee was also a member of the West Cumbria Youth League Committee for several years where, alongside his dad Barrie, they laid the foundations for the growth of the league, including the league's first girls' division, to where it is today with over 300 teams.

Within his role as fixture secretary, Lee was responsible for providing opportunities for thousands of young players within the west of the County.

Cumberland FA CEO Ben Snowdon said: "I actually played for a number of seasons with Lee at St Bees and am truly shocked and absolutely gutted by his loss.

"Lee was selfless and not one of those players who only turned up to training or matches and that was it.  I would guess that at whichever club he was playing at, he would be involved in the committee, or selling tickets/football sheets to raise money and he was always there if there if there was ever a social event as he just loved the crack.

"Anyone who knew Lee, knew how much he loved football and that included talking about it. Whether it be a minute-by-minute, play by play synopsis of the game you had just played, or an overview of the latest Premier League decision that had went against his beloved Liverpool FC, you knew that if you saw Bazza that you were not going anywhere for a while. 

"However, due to his personality and his passion for the game it wasn't long before I found myself so engaged in the conversation and before I knew it, I had forgotten what I was supposed to be doing or realising that I was even more late than I usually am, for wherever it was that I was going to do.  I would love to have another opportunity for such conversations.

"Lee was just genuine. What you saw with Lee was what you got. This made him hugely likeable, and this can be seen within the content and volume of comments from across the game following his death.

"My thoughts are with all of his teammates from over the years, members and friends from his current club Whitehaven Miners Social FC, his friends and his family especially Barrie, Mary and Karl."

In a statement on social media, Whitehaven Miners Social Football Club said: "RIP Pal. Committee Member, Development Captain, Part of Miners forever."