The funeral for a Cornish footballing legend will take place this afternoon in his home village of Budock Water.

Tony Kellow died aged 58, at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro last Sunday, February 20.

His funeral will be held in St Budock Parish Church at 2.30pm today, followed by committal at Penmount Crematorium in Truro.

Donations can be made to the Precious Lives Appeal in a retiring collection or via Keith Penrose funeral directors.

During his career Tony became a legend not only in Cornwall, but also in Devon, where he made his mark as a professional with Exeter City before going on to play for a number of league clubs who sought his goalscoring prowess.

Much revered at Exeter City even to this day, where he still enjoys iconic status with an internet radio show named after him – Kellow’s Bootlaces – he was a real star of his generation but never regarded himself as one.

He never forgot his roots or the people who he grew up with and until his death still remained a charismatic figure.

Born in May 1952, Tony came from a sporting family background and he honed his early skills in the village in which he lived, Budock Water, before taking his first steps into senior football with Falmouth Docks in the Cornwall Combination League at the age of 16.

He made a name for himself after joining Penzance in 1970, before playing for Falmouth Town and then Exeter City, Blackpool, Plymouth Argyle, Swansea City and Newport County before returning to Exeter City.

He eventually came home to Cornwall and briefly continued his involvement with football becoming club steward and manager at Wendron United. He also spent a brief period at Mullion FC as club steward before spending a couple of seasons managing at Constantine FC where he was last involved in the game.

A full tribute appears in the Falmouth and Penryn Packet, out now.