Scarborough Evening News sports reporter Tony Smith has died. He was 56.

He had covered Scarborough Football Club for the paper for the past six seasons and was a familiar face at the club’s McCain Stadium.

Before joining the Evening News he worked at the Calisle News and Star for 10 years.

As well as football, Tony also took an interest in other sports, and followed horse racing and cricket closely.

Evening News sports editor Charles Place said: “Tony was a thorough professional in the way he reported on Boro – a club he grew to love and of which he was a true fan.

“His love of sport was obvious as soon as you began a conversation with him. He will be sadly missed by all his colleagues.”

Editor Paul Napier added: “Tony’s death will come as a great shock to the many thousands of sports fans in Scarborough who followed his work in the pages of our paper.

“He was an important and much respected part of the team here.”

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