TRIBUTES were paid last night to a North-East football coach whose body was found at the club he served with great distinction.

The discovery of Peter Cooper’s body came hours after a court hearing to discuss the future of Billingham Town Football Club – although the two are not thought to be connected.

Mr Cooper was discovered on Wednesday lunchtime by colleagues returning from a winding-up hearing.

Relief that the hearing had been postponed turned to shock and grief when officials found Mr Cooper’s body.

The 49-year-old is believed to have told his family he was going to mark out football pitches for Billingham Town Juniors at the ground in the town’s Bedford Terrace.

Police were called to the scene, but his death is not being treated as suspicious.

Club chairman Tommy Donnelly last night led the tributes to Mr Cooper, who he described as a “tremendous worker”.

“Peter was held in very high regard,” said Mr Donnelly.

“He had been at the club for years and was an absolute gentleman. What has happened is an absolute tragedy.

“He will be sorely missed.”

Billingham is locked in a legal battle with near-neighbours Hartlepool United. The club faced a winding-up hearing at Teesside Combined Court on Wednesday over an alleged £10,443.97 debt.

League One side Hartlepool used Billingham Town’s ground for reserve games. It issued a writ against the Northern League club, claiming it was owed money for maintenance and repairs to the ground.

The hearing was adjourned until December in the hope the clubs can reach an amicable out-of-court agreement.

Mr Donnelly said: “We had the court case on Wednesday, but that has been put into the background now. This is far more important. Peter’s death has put everything in perspective really.

“Our feelings go out to his family and we will be offering to help them in any way we can.”

As a mark of respect, all matches involving the junior teams due to be played this weekend have been cancelled.

A decision on the senior team has not yet been made.

Mike Amos, chairman of the Northern League, said: “He was a hard worker and will be missed by Billingham Town.

“For the club, the timing of this is absolutely tragic. The burden is almost too hard to understand, it is quite awful.

“Obviously, our hearts go out to everyone at Billingham Town and Peter’s family.

“Hopefully, the court case will bring some better news that they deserve.”

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: “Police were called to an address on Bedford Terrace, in Billingham, at 1pm, where they found a body of a man.

“There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.”

An inquest into Mr Cooper’s death is expected to be opened on Monday.