The FAI have led tributes to their former president David Blood after he passed away on Monday.
Blood was president of the association between 2005 and 2010, having become the first person from the United Churches Football League (UCFL) to rise to the rank.
He had been vice-president to Milo Corcoran before stepping up to the big job following Corcoran’s departure and was second in command to John Delaney for the entirety of his tenure.
A talented footballer, Blood earned a Junior International cap for Ireland and managed the UCFL’s representative team in the Oscar Traynor Cup.
His tenure as FAI president included the ill-fated appointment of Steve Staunton as national team manager in 2006 as well as that of Giovanni Trapattoni two years later.
"The FAI expresses its deepest sympathies to the family & friends of former President David Blood. A dedicated football man, David will be sadly missed by all of those who knew him," an FAI statement today said.
Blood's beloved UCFL tweeted: "The UCFL received the sad news today that our President David Blood has passed away.
David also served as President of the FAI and LFA. Our thoughts and prayers are with our current chairman, and David’s brother Barney and family at this difficult time."
“We are saddened to learn of David’s passing. He was a friend of our Club from our days in the UCFL. Our condolences to his family and friends,” said Dublin University AFC.
The Irish FA, the organising body for Northern Ireland, tweeted: "Condolences from all at the Irish FA."
