A former weekly newspaper reporter and football fanzine editor has lost a four-year battle with cancer at the age of 56.

Tributes have been paid to Ian Edmunds, who worked at the Walsall Advertiser and was also a contributor to the Tamworth Herald over the course of his career.

Football fanatic Ian also served as editor of West Bromwich Albion fanzines Fingerpost and Last Train To Rolfe Street in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

He passed away last month in Compton Hospice, Wolverhampton, with wife Christine by his side.  His funeral was held on Wednesday.

Christine, 59, said: “”Ian was a very loyal individual who loved his family and friends. He was highly thought of at the Advertiser and was always there to lend a hand.

“It will have left a big void in a lot of people’s lives. He was a larger than life character and could always be relied upon. It is so sad because he had everything to live for.”

Grandfather-of-three Ian was born and bred in the Black Country, and met Christine on a blind date 23 years ago.

They would have celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary this month.

Christine added: “He fought very hard. From the day he was diagnosed he still had a positive outlook. He coped with the side effects and never complained.

“I held his hand and read to him on Monday and he slipped away quite quickly. He was in no pain or discomfort. The care Compton Hospice provided to him was absolutely excellent. They made sure he was cared for 24 hours of the day and carried on the positivity he had.”

Before  becoming a journalist, he worked as an accountant.  More recently he had moved into teaching.

Speaking of Ian’s passion for football, his brother Neil added: “Albion was one of the biggest loves of his life. When I last went to see him he could barely open his eyes, but he was still asking if we had made any new signings.

“He touched a lot of people’s hearts with the way he was not just about Albion, but music and everything he went into.”