A former regional daily sports journalist and Des Lynam lookalike has written a book detailing his experiences of covering his favourite football team.

Francis Ponder, who worked for the Colchester Daily Gazette, has brought out the book charting his time following Colchester United, the team he had supported since boyhood.

The book’s title ‘Step This Way… Mr Lynam: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’ is a nod to his resemblance to the TV presenter, for whom he was once mistaken at a United game.

Francis, known as Frannie, had been an engineering apprentice before entering journalism, working for the Maldon and Burnham standard after having served as press officer for the Maldon Sunday Football League.

A couple of months later, he was offered a job on the sports desk of the Gazette.

In 1985, he wrote his first United story and by 1990, Frannie became the newspaper’s dedicated reporter for the club.

Said Frannie: “It was my dream job. I had supported them for 30 years. I told the manager I reserved the right to criticise, that was non-negotiable.

“I started going to away matches on the fans’ coach and the player manager Ian Atkins asked me if I wanted to go on the players’ coach.

“Some people said I was too close to the club but I always took the view I was there to represent the fans, not the club nor the players.”

‘Step This Way… Mr Lynam’ is published by Apex and is available in hardback through Amazon and other outlets priced at £12.99. It is also available as an eBook priced at £4.99.