A BUILDING to serve as a lasting legacy to a man who helped run a football club has been opened this week in front of hundreds of people.

A new kitchen and service area has been built into the existing sports pavilion at Takeley FC thanks to a club effort inspired by 36-year-old cancer victim Lee Borham.

Lee, a former secretary, manager, and all round clubman, died of his illness in January 2010 and since that time members and family have been working on the extension as a lasting memory of his life.

Takeley chairman Pat Curran and president Gordon Silvester joined Essex FA chairman Michael Game and Lee’s wife Sharlene Borham to cut the ribbon on Tuesday evening.

Mr Curran paid tribute to Lee “the legend” and shared some stories with the 230 people that had come along for the opening and for the Takeley v Stansted match immediately after.

Afterwards a tearful Mrs Borham said: “It is very touching to see that everyone remembers him so well and that he has left a lasting legacy at the club.

“We met in Takeley and lived in the village our whole lives together – he was a community man and would have helped anybody. We all miss him.”