MOURNERS have gathered to say goodbye to Charlton Athletic historian Colin Cameron.

The funeral of the lifelong Addicks fan who passed away on Christmas Day at the age of 76 took place at the Our Lady of the Rosary Church on Wednesday morning. (Jan 16)

Much-loved Colin was the club’s official historian for almost 40 years and first visited The Valley in 1947.

His niece Pauline Williams likened him to an older brother who will be "missed enormously by so, so many people".

Colin, who had three sisters, lived in Sidcup his entire life and attended St Joseph’s Convent and St Mary’s College where he captained the school’s football and played for North West Kent.

The talented sportsman boxed for Sidcup and District Amateur Boxing Club and Eltham Boxing Club at the same time as Sir Henry Cooper, who famously floored Muhammad Ali.

Well-known among Addicks fans as the author of the The Valiant 500, published in 1991, and Home and Away with Charlton Athletic, first published in 1992 and updated in 2003, he also regularly wrote for the club's matchday programme.

In May he received a special lifetime achievement award to mark his longstanding contribution to the club.

Colin suffered a mini-stroke at the start of December and had been recovering at home when he suffered a relapse on Christmas Eve and died the following morning in hospital.

A minute’s applause was held in his memory before the Addicks’ game against Ipswich.

In her funeral notes, Pauline included an extract from one of the dozens of e-mail tributes sent to the family which "said it all".

The final paragraph read: "Seeing the response from Charlton on Boxing Day and looking at the various tributes online was rather wonderful and you must be glad to know, or confirm what you already knew, that you weren't the only ones that think he was jolly marvelous."

The service was followed by burial at Sidcup Cemetery, Foots Cray Lane.