MACCLESFIELD Town stalwart Eric Campbell sadly passed away last week.

The assistant physiotherapist, who was in his late 60s, died last Wednesday following complications after a double heart bypass operation at Wythenshawe Hospital.

Tributes have poured in from club officials, players and supporters who have been shocked by his death after more than 20 years at Moss Rose. éLittle Ericé, as he was affectionately known by many at the Cheshire club, joined from Hyde United in 1985 after Peter Wragg had been made manager.

Macc were then in the Northern Premier League but, as the club rose up the divisions, eventually winning promotion to the Football League in 1997, Campbell took on many different roles, including rub-man, travel co-ordinator and odd job man.

But it was his sense of humour which made him so popular, particularly among the players. Assistant manager and ex-player John Askey recalls: "Iéd been made manager but, around the January time, we were struggling in the league and Eric came up to me and said éIéve got you down for an OBE John.é I said éThatés very kind of you but what do you mean?é, he replied éOut By Easter!é.

"He used to referee the matches in training sometimes and deliberately make dodgy decisions to wind the players up. Once he wound Richie Barker up so much he lost it and was éeffing and jeffingé at Eric. But the next day Richie brought him in a bottle of whiskey to apologise."

He added: "If anything needed doing you asked Eric. Any odd job he would do it. In fact, there wouldnét have been a medical room at Moss Rose if it wasnét for him."

A former New Mills player, Campbell used to be an account manager with the Thomson newspaper group in Manchester but, on his retirement, joined the clubés staff full-time.

"He was a wonderful little man," said Roy Higginbotham, a Silkmen vice-president, associate director and good friend of Campbell.

"There was nothing he wouldnét do for the club. He was a fantastic servant to Macclesfield Town and everybody at the club loved him, especially the players."

A proud grandfather-of-two, Campbell lived in Woodley, Stockport, with his wife Pat and had two children, David and Philip.

Campbell had been taken into Stepping Hill Hospital after complaining of chest pains in December. He was then moved to a specialist heart unit at Wythenshawe where he underwent surgery last week.

The club will be holding a minuteés silence at the home game against Wrexham on Saturday, February 11, where his family will be present.