A CRUNCH derby match to be played by Weymouth FC this Easter will be dedicated to the Dorset Echo's much-missed sports editor.

The Terras' key home clash with Yeovil FC on Easter Monday is dedicated to the memory of Nigel Dean, who died in August 2020 aged 57 after suffering from cancer.

Weymouth resident Nigel worked for the Echo for 40 years and spent much of his career reporting on the highs and lows of Weymouth FC. He was a life-long fan of the club and first starting watching the Terras at The Rec as a schoolboy.

Dorset Echo: Nigel Dean hi-res

Nigel became a well respected figure and friend of the club, its staff and players, and the decision to dedicate the match to him was an easy one, chairman Ian White said.

He added: "I was over the moon when I found out that this match was being dedicated to Nigel. I'm really pleased that he's being remembered on such a big day for the club."

A member of Weymouth FC's supporter club and a player on the supporters' team, Nigel would attend all of the Terras' home games and travelled to many away games up and down the country.

A 17-strong group of Nigel's family and friends will be guests of honour at the game on Monday with the matchday programme containing a tribute to Nigel, while an announcement of the match dedication will be made at the Bob Lucas stadium.

Ian added: "I knew Nigel for a long time. He was such a super guy and he meant so much to so many people. He was the sort of person who never had a bad word to say.

"I've been with the club for 40 years and Nigel was always there. Just reading though the words that are in the tribute to him makes me well up, it was such a shock to lose him."

Dorset Echo: Board outside the Bob Lucas stadium Picture: Neil Walton

Nigel's wife Julie said the match day will be a special one for the family 'to be joined by so many wonderful and lifetime friends to remember a dear husband, dad, son, brother, friend to many and work colleague.'

Julie said that her football-mad husband once took her on a date night to Weymouth's last game at The Rec in April 1987.

She added: "Sunday family roasts were spent discussing Saturday's results and how Weymouth had played on the previous afternoon.

"When Nigel became sports editor, he still continued to watch Weymouth FC and report on them and he would often joke that his job working in the sports department was his hobby and he was being paid for it."

*The match kicks off at 1pm on Easter Monday. It is ticket only and ticket sales for home fans (online and in the ticket office) will close at 10am on the match day.