Tributes have been paid to a sports sub-editor at a regional daily who has lost his battle with cancer at the age of 57.

Colin Greenhill worked at the Edinburgh Evening News where he championed its coverage of youth and amateur football.

He started working for The Scotsman Publications Ltd in 1971, remaining with the company ever since, with him working as a journalist for The Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday, before joining the Edinburgh Evening News.

Colin was recently diagnosed with cancer and passed away on Saturday, with his footballer son, East Stirling midfielder David Greenhill, leaving the match against Rangers at half-time when he was told his dad was losing his fight for life.

Mark Atkinson, deputy sports editor at the Evening News, said: “Colin was a great character to have in the office. He was funny, witty and a fine sub-editor whose attention to detail was unrivalled.

“He was devoted to coverage of youth and amateur football in the paper. He will be deeply missed by all who worked with him at the Evening News.”

Colin had a passion for youth football and coached in youth sections at Glenpark, Edinburgh City and Hutchison Vale.

Evening News editor Frank O’Donnell said: “Colin was well known to so many people involved in football in the east of Scotland.

“His encouragement to young players and his love of the game was always apparent. He is a big loss.”

Alan Archibald, of the South East Region Youth Football Association, praised Colin for the coverage of youth football in the Evening News.

He said: “Colin was a tremendous character, a gem of a bloke. He was the life and soul of Local Heroes, he built it up. He made sure we had amateurs on a Tuesday, youths on a Wednesday and a Local Heroes section at the weekend.

“The excellent coverage that the Evening News has today of youth and amateur football in the Lothians is mostly down to his passion and endeavour.

“He was the voice of youth football, although he catered for all sports, such as darts and billiards. He also did a lot of good work in the coaching community. A lot of the youths he taught went on to play at a higher level. He will be sadly missed.”

Colin leaves his wife Gillian, children Paul, David and Emma, and three grandchildren and the date for his funeral is yet to be set.