John Maddock, a Warrington-born journalist who worked on several national newspapers and also spent time at Manchester City FC, has died aged 73.
In a career that covered almost 60 years, Maddock also formed part of the team which tried to bring the Olympics to Manchester in 1996.
Maddock had been deputy northern editor at the Sunday People, managing editor of the Express group and a special advisor to Mirror Group boss Robert Maxwell.
He was also responsible for the first shirt sponsorship deal of any English football club, between Liverpool FC and electronics firm Hitachi in 1978. It was a move that would change the game. He was general manager of City for a short period in the early 1990s.
Maddock died last week at Wythenshawe hospital. He had been fighting cancer for the last six years.
He leaves wife Jennifer, son Julian, daughter Heather and grandchildren, Christian, Lydia, Joshua and Kitty. His funeral will be held at Altrincham Crematorium on September 15.
