EDGAR Maidment, the man who probably did more for post-warfootball in Dorset than anybody else, has died aged 77.

Maidment, who died early yesterday at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester also led the revival of Portland FC after the war and served them for nearly 50 years.

He became associated with the Blues in 1946 and served as secretary, treasurer and spent more than 20 years as chairman, a post he relinquished in 1985.

He was also a founder member of the Dorset Combination League - now the Dorset Premier League - in 1957 and had four spells as the league chairman.

He served as president of the League from 1965 until 1973 and was elected a life member. In 2001 he was appointed a patron of the League. Throughout the same period Maidment served on the Council of the Dorset County FA and was made a life member.

Chairman of the Dorset Premier League, Alan Burt, paid tribute to Maidment's dedication. "Dorset football has lost one of it's mainstays," he said. "Edgar served club, league and county football over a 50-year period. He was a very proud hard-working man, it was a privilege to have worked with him.

"On behalf of all those engaged in county football I offer his family our sincere condolences."

Blues chairman Phil Laming said Maidment was much respected by everyone who came into contact with him. "He held this club together at a time when it was at it's lowest ebb and the biggest tribute I can pay is that when a lot of people think about Portland FC, Edgar's name will be the first they think of."

* A minute's silence will be held in Edgar Maidment's memory before tomorrow's Jewson Wessex League game at Grove Corner between the Blues and Blackfield and Langley.