Croydon schools’ sport legend David Lomas has died.

The honorary secretary of Croydon Schools’ Football Association passed away on Sunday at a nursing home.

The 67-year-old was a regular contributor to the Croydon Guardian’s sports pages and was a devoted cricket and football fan.

His work with school sport in Croydon was unprecedented, having arrived in the borough in 1970.

He occupied almost every post available in the Croydon Schools’ FA as well as working several jobs at the Croydon Schools’ Cricket Association.

Among his work was manager of the borough teams in both football under 12s to under 16s and cricket under 11s to under 19s.

He was also involved in England schools’ table tennis from 1970 to 1972.

He was honoured with the schools FA 40 years’ long service award for his work in Croydon.

Croydon Schools’ FA chairman Peter Westlake said the loss to Croydon sports would be “massive”.

He said: “He worked incredibly hard.

“He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of everything that took place in Croydon schools football and cricket.

“He could recite a team of players and managers, such as Roy Hodgson, who came from Croydon.

“He will be an incredible loss to Croydon.”

Chief executive of the council Jon Rouse said: “David’s interest in local politics was matched only by his devotion to the Croydon Schools Football and Cricket Associations.

“Over my time at this council he was an individual with whom I developed a real affinity, not least through our shared love of the Yorkshire cricket team.

“He had an astonishing memory and would recite to me whole scorecards from cricket matches that had taken place many years ago.

“And if things were getting tough in managing council meetings I would often look to the balcony for his wry smile. He will be missed by me and many other people.”

He leaves no wife or children but a sporting legacy.