LOCAL football legend Jimmy Hollywood (Snr), of Swanage, has died aged 66.

Born in Liverpool on April 20, 1950, Jimmy moved to Swanage in the 1970s with his family.

He is best remembered in the community for his love of football, and he was involved with a number of local teams at both youth and adult level.

In the 1980s, he started up his own team, Harrow Sports, and also managed Kingston Football Club.

From 2004 until 2007, he was in charge of the Swanage Town & Herston Football Club’s first team, along with his long-term friend and ‘football sidekick’, Derek Beale.

The pair helped coach Corfe Castle Football Club last season as the club chased promotion into Division One.

After giving years of dedication on and off the pitch, Jimmy was made a life-vice president at Days Park.

Gareth Davies, publicity officer for the Swans, paid tribute to Jimmy on behalf of the club.

He described his passion for football as “infectious”.

“He was a very successful manager of the club and developed a lot of players who are a mainstay in the team to this day,” he said.

“He had a real passion for football and a great sense of humour. One player came up to him with a bad knee one day and he replied, ‘when I used to play with a bad knee, I put WD-40 on it’.

“He was a massive Liverpool fan and had a lot of contacts there and collected a lot of memorabilia. He would often go to the training ground and pose for a photo with some of the players.

“He didn’t take life too seriously, and he did loads for the town of Swanage. He always had time for people, and he was the kind of man who would always give you his last fiver. He was a smashing guy.”

As well as his commitments to the local football clubs, Jimmy worked for the Wide Horizons Townsend Centre, which provides educational outdoor activities for young people.

He was also heavily involved in the Swanage youth club.

Jimmy passed away on October 15 at Forest Holme Hospice. He leaves behind his wife, Maggie, and his sons, Ian and Jimmy Junior.

His funeral service will be held at St Edward’s Catholic Church, Swanage on Wednesday, October 26, at 12.30pm.

A commemorative match programme in honour of Jimmy will feature at tomorrow’s Dorset Premier League fixture with Sturminster Newton United FC.