Former Chester forward Mickey Fields has died aged 78 after a battle with cancer.
Fields, who was born in Chester, made 22 league appearances for his hometown club in the 1950s and was a prolific scorer for the reserves in the Cheshire County League.
After playing his early football for Lache Youth and Christleton, Fields established himself as one of the top players in the Chester and District Football League.
He had a trial with Nottingham Forest before being signing for the Blues and progressing from the juniors through to the reserves.
Fields made his debut for the reserves at the start of the 1953-54 season and demonstrated his class in front of goal for the second string over the next few years.
He scored 26 times in less than 30 games in the 1956-57 campaign, including the only goal in the 1-0 win over Burnley in the Lancashire Senior Cup final.
Fields was instrumental in the club's sole Lancashire Senior Cup success, netting twice in the first round win at Rochdale and bagging the winner in the 2-1 semi final win over Liverpool at Sealand Road.
Fields made his first team debut in a Division Three North game at Halifax on April 2, 1956, with the Blues running out 1-0 winners.
He made a further three appearances that term and another 13 the following season. His only goal for the first team came in a 4-3 home loss to Chesterfield on September 12, 1956.
Fields featured five times in the 1957-58 season but injured his knee cartilage in a Cheshire Senior Cup tie with Cheadle Rovers in January 1958, effectively ending his Football League career.
As he was nearing full fitness, Fields suffered a similar injury in his other knee and left Sealand Road in May 1959 when he moved to Welsh club Borough United.
Throughout his time with the Blues, Fields remained part time and worked for Shell as a process operator.
Fields, who died on May 27, remained a staunch supporter of the club, holding a season ticket at the Swansway Chester Stadium, attending away matches and being a member of the Chester Former Players Association.
A statement from Chester FC said: "He will be sadly missed and the club send out their condolences to his family and friends."
