Mr Leath was a Life Vice-President of the football club in recognition of the service he had given over many years to the club he supported from a very early age.

He was born in Leominster, the son of a railwayman, and moved to Shrewsbury with his family when he was six.

He began watching Town play from early childhood and was a regular visitor up until a few weeks ago when ill health kept him away from the club. He always kept close links with Shrewsbury and with the football club and he was a founder of hospital broadcasting which brought the Shrewsbury Town games to the patients in the Royal Salop Infirmary and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. He was instrumental in the formation of the Executive Club Members Association at the club.

In 1991 he was honoured by the Queen, being made an OBE for services to the community in Shrewsbury and Shropshire.

Speaking on behalf of the club Shrewsbury Town Chairman Roland Wycherley said: "It was with great sadness that we heard the news that Frank Leath had passed away.

"He was a big Shrewsbury Town fan for the whole of his life and will sadly be missed by all at the club."