A GENUINE legend of North-East sports writing has been remembered as a storyteller and true gentleman by his family and former colleagues.

Grandfather-of-six and esteemed journalist, Bob Cass, died on Thursday, November 24, after earning the respect of his peers working in pitch side press boxes.

Darlington-born Mr Cass, who lived in Durham, began his sports reporting career at The Northern Echo and made his home at Feethams covering his beloved Darlington FC.

The talented “old-school journalist”, known for his infectious sense of humour, became a friend and mentor to players, managers and reporters alike during his time as a football writer for the Sun and Mail on Sunday.

Mr Cass’s dedication to the North-East football scene and the sports reporters covering it also saw the lifelong Quaker fan become the chairman of the Football Writers’ Association.

Countless personalities involved in the beautiful game have paid their respects to Mr Cass who died of cancer, aged 78.

Among the tributes were messages from former England captain, Gary Lineker, Sunderland manager, David Moyes, and former Newcastle United and England player, Rob Lee.

Mr Cass’s son, Simon, said: “I remember being taken to various football matches as a kid and meeting all the players and people like that.

“As well as my two sisters, we all have some great memories of our childhood to look back on.

“There’s a treasured picture that I have of us with Kevin Keegan in 1982 with the Tyne Bridge in the background and it’s events like that that I remember so well.

“The thing that stands out about him is that people were always laughing their heads off around him.

“He was respected as a journalist though as he always got the story – he was the envy of his colleagues as he earned the trust of so many sources and never broke their confidence.

“I have to say, as a family we’ve been totally overwhelmed by the outpouring of really nice feelings and memories.”

Mr Cass’s hometown team are set to honour the giant of football journalism with a minute’s silence before Darlington’s home game against Marine FC during a FA Trophy match on Sunday.

Simon Cass added: “We’re knocked out by that gesture.

“He always had to defend himself as a journalist after being accused of being a Newcastle fan by Sunderland supporters or a Sunderland fan by Newcastle supporters, but really, he was a Darlington fan.”

Mr Cass stated one of his fondest footballing memories was covering the 1973 FA Cup Final for The Northern Echo, when Sunderland defeated the then-mighty Leeds United at Wembley.

The jubilant Sunderland squad had thrown a fully-clothed Mr Cass into the communal bath to celebrate the 1-0 win.

Andy Richardson, editor of The Northern Echo, said: “Bob cut his teeth as a reporter at the Echo and throughout his career he stuck to the basic principles of journalism – build up good contacts and you will get good stories.

“He is an example to us all and will be greatly missed by the profession, the game of football, and of course by his family and friends. We pass on our deepest condolences to them.”