JOE Cozens, one of the great stalwarts of the Harlow sporting scene, has passed away aged 98.

A popular and well-connected resident of the town for more than 70 years, Joe served as a backroom official at both Harlow Town FC and Harlow Rugby Club over several decades.

Born in Chelsea in November, 1925, he moved to Harlow in 1953 and was heavily involved behind the scenes at the Football Club throughout the 1970s and early-1980s.

He was treasurer when they famously beat Leicester City at the Sportscentre in an FA Cup replay in the 1979/80 season.

During the 1980s, 1990s and early-2000s, he gave his time to the Rugby Club when they played at Ram Gorse, just a stones throw from his home in the Hornbeams.

There, he held the role of Duty Manager, tirelessly helping to maintain the facilities on both matchdays and non-matchdays for the enjoyment of the club’s players and supporters, as well as those of the visiting teams.

In recognition of his dedication, he was made an Honorary Vice President of the Rugby Club, a title he has held ever since.

Joe subsequently made a brief return to the Football Club as a matchday helper in the mid-2000s when they moved to Barrows Farm.

A fiercely loyal and generous man, he became known to countless residents of the town, not just via the local sporting scene but also through his role as Housing Officer at Harlow Council, then known as Harlow Development Corporation.

Holding an extensive regimental history which included being posted to Germany in the 1940s after the Second World War, he was secretary of the Machine Gun Corps Old Comrades’ Association until shortly before the turn of the century.

He passed away at Princess Alexandra Hospital on Saturday 28 September, 2024. He is survived by his wife Edith, their three children and six grandsons.

His funeral will be held at Parndon Wood Crematorium at 12noon on Thursday 10 October, 2024.