A FOOTBALL fanatic and non-league legend has died.
Norman Dearlove played for Banstead Athletic and Redhill FC, among others, during a distinguished footballing career.
A handyman by day, Mr Dearlove – whose strong-tackling style earned him the nickname "The Tank" – also had trials with professional outfits Crystal Palace and Fulham FC.
The 78-year-old died on December 16 following a short illness.
Members of Banstead FC have paid tribute to one of the club's legends.
Bob Lockyer said: "He will be missed by all who had the privilege to have known him. He certainly was one of a kind, the likes of which we will never see again."
Not long before his death, Mr Dearlove visited the Banstead team at their home ground in Merland Rise, Tadworth. Players presented him with a club shirt bearing his name and number and a signed ball in recognition of all he had done for the club.
His wife, Patricia, said that, alongside his family, football was her husband's great passion.
She told the Mirror: "He lived for it, he broke nearly every bone in his body for it.
"In the end he had two metal knees, a strengthened ankle and a new hip joint."
But, she added: "He came from the era when you could tackle the goalkeeper – he didn't like the way the game had changed.
"I would say to him 'what about the tackling now or the pink boots?' He said 'it's not the game it used to be'."
Mr Dearlove began his football career aged 17 at Carshalton FC, where he played for the 1st XI. He played for Banstead Athletic from 1958-1960 and cited Dorking's Pat Tobin as the best manager he ever played for.
But Mrs Dearlove said her husband loved more than just the on-pitch aspect of football.
"He was a man's man; he loved to talk to anyone and everyone," she said.
"He even encouraged the little cat who lives down the road to come here, her owners know she was often here during the day."
She added: "He was a people person; at the funeral the number of people was unbelievable. I have never seen a crowd as strong."
A life-long Chelsea fan, Mr Dearlove loved spending time with his children Karen, Mark and Dawn and his six grandchildren.
Mrs Dearlove said: "I don't know what I can say, we had 57 years together.
"He loved driving, he would give anyone a lift. Even when he was having trouble breathing later in life he used to tell friends to call if they ever needed a lift."
Mr Dearlove died following a battle with a chest illness. At his funeral, his love for football provided a ray of sunshine to those paying tribute.
Mrs Dearlove said: "[At the end] they turned the coffin round and then they played Match Of The Day. We had been so down but then everyone clapped and laughed. It really lifted everyone."
