The club was today saddened to learn of the passing of our long-serving groundsman John Reynolds.

John passed away in Wakefield Hospice on Thursday after a lengthy battle against illness. John, who was 75, leaves wife Maureen and son Stephen.

John was recently acknowledged at Elland Road when he was rewarded with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Leeds Sports Awards for 2012.

His association with the club spans over five decades since first arriving as a young trainee from south Wales, along with the great John Charles.

Injury prevented John from making a career as a player, but he still made his living on the football pitch where he was the club's head groundsman up until recently. John's relationship with the club continued, though, and he worked with Norman Southernwood on the ground staff in recent years.

John was a familiar face to all who have passed through the doors of the club and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.