Coleraine Football Club has led the tributes to Showgrounds legend Victor Hunter following his death at 84.
Hunter represented the North West club as a player, coach, manager and Honorary Vice President.
The iconic goalkeeper spent the majority of his career at Coleraine after joining from Derry City in 1957.
He went on to make 472 appearances for the Bannsiders where he won the Irish Cup in 1965 and All-Ireland Blaxnit Cup four years later.
Hunter also represented Northern Ireland at international level.
After retiring from playing, Hunter remained as coach before becoming assistant manager to Bertie Peacock and also managed the club for three years from 1978.
A passionate supporter of Coleraine, Hunter also played a significant part in the youth set-up at the Showgrounds, and in 2017 he was appointed Honorary Vice-President at the club’s 90th anniversary dinner.
Coleraine Chairman Colin McKendry told Coleraine's website : “The term legend is used very loosely but Victor was an absolute legend.
“As a Board, we were delighted to appoint Victor as Honorary Vice President as his association to Coleraine was unbelievable.
“He went that extra mile for young players and one of my earliest memories was the team he took to the Milk Cup final. No matter where we went, the youth really thought a lot of him.
“In recent years, we enjoyed his company going to away games and his football knowledge was second to none.
“On behalf of the club, we pass on our thoughts and condolences to Victor’s family and friends.”
Coleraine boss Oran Kearney, who played under Hunter at Ballymoney United, described his former manager as ‘a true football man’.
He added: “Victor is an iconic football man who I started my career playing under when he managed Ballymoney United.
“He will be fondly remembered in the same breath as Bertie Peacock, Harry Gregg and other legends of the club.
“A true football man, who in more recent years, we had the pleasure of spending time with on the team bus going to away games.
“He had a fountain of knowledge and helped the careers of so many players.”
