Tributes paid to football legend Gary Talbot who lost his battle with lung cancer this morning

Chester FC star Gary Talbot died on Sunday morning at the Countess of Chester hospital just days before Christmas.

Despite being a prolific goal scorer and professional photographer, wife Christine said he was a ‘true gentleman’ and a ‘family man’.

She told the Leader: “He was a family man he loved his family and was proud of them. A true gentleman with a good sense of humour, even until the end.

“He always saw the best in everyone and never had anything negative to say about anyone, he was always so positive.”

Before making his debut as a professional footballer, Gary used to play ‘schoolboy football’ for the likes of Blackburn until his ‘dad said he had to get a proper job’

It was then that he worked as a photographer for local newspapers including the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

He then went on to work for the Daily Mail and it was there he found his way back into football at a charity match.

Gary played for the News team and then-Chester FC manager played for the celebrity’s team and Chris said he came up to Gary and asked if he ‘fancied playing professionally’.

She said: “He tried to juggle both jobs but eventually decided to start his own freelance photography.”

Gary won many awards for his photography which allowed him to ‘travel the world’ and photograph some of the world’s famous faces such as Princess Diana, the President of Kenya, the President of India and James Mansfield.

Chris and Gary, who lived in Eccleston near Chester, met at the age of 18 in Blackpool and have spent 57 happy years together.

He leaves behind two children, Annabel who lives in Australia and Damian who lives in Dubai, as well as his two grandchildren Matilda (11) and Maisie (7).

Chris added: “They are all arriving tonight for Christmas which is a great tragedy because he died this morning (Sunday, December 22). He didn’t manage to survive to see them.

“We are all heartbroken. He had been battling lung cancer since last year but he lost that battle this morning.

“He was always a joy to be around, our family was our world.

“I have loads of happy memories, he had a great life and travelled all over world.”

As well as excelling at photography and football, Gary also enjoyed playing golf and loved his garden, with his lawn being his ‘pride and joy’.

He is also described as being a ‘great swimmer’ but football was where he excelled as he still holds the record for the fastest hat trick of just under three minutes.

Chris said: “Chester Football club was his passion, as was Everton football club. And he was so highly regarded I think as well, he was vice-president and they had named the legend lounge after him and the street near there was Talbot Street.

“He will be very sadly missed. We have been together for 57 years. Life without him is going to be very difficult.”

Brother-in-Law Mike Fryer said he was a ‘great guy’ and would always ‘look after’ them and take them to watch matches.

He added: “He was a really good husband, a great father and a great sportsman.

“I used to help him in the dark room when he was developing his pictures. He was a really good photographer.

“Gary was a kind man who always worked hard and was always a gentleman.”