I was saddened to hear from a friend that local footballer, Martin Patching, recently passed away at the age of 65.

Martin played at the highest levels for Wolves and Watford and then worked in journalism. He suffered from ill-health and returned to live in Rotherham a few years back. I saw him a few times in the Brecks on my UK visits. (I was at school with Martin's brother, Philip, the eldest of the many Patchings who lived on Brecks Crescent in the 1950s. Philip died about four years ago.)