Peter passed away on December 30th after spending three weeks in hospital fighting a chest infection and, finally, pneumonia.

A right-half for Empire Paper Mills FC in his playing days, he found national fame during the lead-up to the 2008 FA Trophy final when he reached No.15 in the iTunes dance chart with his ‘Beat The Weather’ single.

Ebbsfleet vice-chairman Peter Varney told Kent Online, "I visited Peter in hospital twice in the last week and could see how ill he was.

"The club has lost a true legend, a man with a tremendous work ethic and a passionate supporter of the club. Stonebridge Road will never be quite the same.

"On a personal level I will miss his humour and the chats which accompanied his delivery of the local newspapers."

Peter joined Gravesend & Northfleet as groundsman in the mid-1990s from Burroughs & Wellcome at Dartford, where he was also groundsman. He also continued to maintain EPM's bowls green at Greenhithe and was also an accomplished bowls player himself, reaching County standard.