TRIBUTES have been paid to Percy Ancell – a stalwart of Stubbington Youth FC – who passed away just after Christmas, following a short illness, aged 95.

Percy was a former chairman of the club, who helped set up the Stubbington Sports teams, founder members of the Mid Solent Youth League, after the club was first formed in 1970.

His three sons, Matt and twins Nick and Steve all played for the club in the late 1970s and early ’80s while their father was their coach.

Percy became chairman remained a key figure with the club after they finished playing for Stubbington. In 1987 he became the second-ever chairman of the Mid Solent Youth League, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2018, serving for 10 years.

He succeeded Bill Legg, who founded the original Collingwood Cadets League in 1968, and subsequent Collingwood Lads and Boys Leagues in the mid-1970s, before it adopted the Mid Solent name and is credited with making it very much the league it is today.

After retirement, Percy maintained his links with both Stubbington and the league – he was made the club’s first Life President more than 15 years ago, and was also made vice-president of the Mid Solent, when Ray Coleman.

He received the Portsmouth Divisional Football Association 20 years’ service award, and the Hampshire FA’s 25-year long service award.

Many tributes were paid to Percy at his funeral, held last week at Portchester Crematorium, when representatives of both the Mid Solent and Stubbington Youth FC joined family members and friends in a celebration of his life.

Among the many stories told about Percy’s love of sport – not just football – was how after training sessions in the Crofton Community Centre, he would produce a Subbuteo-type pitch to run through tactics.

Nick and Steve believe most of what their dad said “went above most of the boys’ heads!”

Percy, a lifelong Arsenal fan, was described as a “legend in the Mid Solent League” and the mourners heard local youth football will “forever be indebted for his time and effort.”

Even over the last 10 years or so, Percy could still be seen on a Saturday morning walking around the Rec, watching the growing number of teams playing – at one point the club’s future was in serious doubt nearly 20 years ago.

The formation of mini-soccer teams after Barra Houldershaw became chairman in 2008, revived the club’s fortunes.

He attended prize presentations and spoke to the current crop of club coaches and officers, providing a strong link to the club’s long and successful history.

Percy’s sons have expressed how proud they are of their father – “the best they could ever have.” But they are particularly proud of the fact that Percy was a “decent, kind and generous human being, who will be forever missed.”

Percy, who was also a keen cricketer in the past, was at a loss after the death of his wife Eileen, in January 2024, but still hoped to make it to 100 not out. His family are comforted by the thought that they are now together again.

Percy was born on October 24, 1929, in London’s East End, where his grandfather owned a pub, near the Docks.

During the war, Percy, who had two sisters, was evacuated to Oxford, where he would return with his family to visit, in later life. He excelled at school, academically, and in sports, and his report described him as a “likeable, trustworthy, intelligent and gifted lad.”

After doing his National Service, he met Eileen during a holiday in Jersey, and they married in 1957. During their courtship, Percy would call and take her three brothers to watch Arsenal at Highbury, before returning to take out Eileen in the evening.

Shortly after while working for Plessey, the workforce were told the company was moving to Titchfield. After moving to Hampshire – exchanging London for a life by the Solent – the boys were born in 1964 and 1968.

Having played for Millwall Reserves in his youth, Percy displayed his all-round sporting prowess by running for Victoria Park Harriers in the East End. He took up golf in retirement, playing at Lee-on-the-Solent Golf Club, hitting several holes in one.

Percy and his three sons were at Wembley to see Gosport Borough play in the 2014 FA Trophy Final – their last trip together to a big game – their first match as a young family was at Fratton Park, watching Pompey, although he remained a lifelong Gooner.

He was delighted when his grand-daughter Jasmine also became an Arsenal fan. The night before he passed away, while a patient at the Queen Alexandra Hospital, Arsenal managed a 1-0 win over Ipswich. It seemed fitting to his family – “one-nil to the Arsenal!”

In their tribute to their father, Matt, Steve and Nick said: “Percy was one of a kind. He had a heart of gold, and was kind and generous in spirit. Both Percy and our mum Eileen were very community-orientated and did so much good work in Stubbington.”

Long-serving Mid Solent Youth League secretary Steve Cox also paid his own tribute to Percy after the funeral.

He said: “Percy was one of the founding fathers of the league, and was a major mentor of mine, as he was the first chairman I served under.

“Along with Ray Coleman, he was one of the people who showed me how the league should be run, and that has been in a way I have steadfastly stuck to down the years.

“I remember one early piece of advice in particular. Percy said to me: ‘Steve, you see that rule book there? It is there to be used, not abused. It’s for reference, it’s not a weapon.’

“I have tried to make sure we remain a developmental league for the benefit of boys and girls who want to play football in a fun and safe way, and we have always tried to interpret those rules in a fair way for everyone’s benefit as Percy wanted.”

•The Ancell family have asked for any donations to be made to the Portsmouth Hospitals Charity.