ENGLAND football boss Gareth Southgate has paid tribute to the Wye Valley mentor and friend who helped him become a top coach.

Former Football Association elite coaching manager Dick Bate, who passed away from a brain tumour last April at the age of 71, was honoured at a charity dinner organised by his wife Maggie at Ross-on-Wye’s Chase Hotel.

The event attended by several football legends raised an incredible £47,500 for the Giles’ Trust brain tumour charity, run by England cricket boss Ashley Giles and his wife Stine, who were also present.

England U21 boss Aidy Boothroyd, Burnley manager Sean Dyche, former Spurs boss Keith Burkenshaw, and ex-Cardiff City boss Malkay Mackay representing the Scottish FA were also there honouring the memory of Dick, who lived with his wife in Howle Hill.

In a video message played at the dinner, Gareth Southgate said: “I think like all English coaches Dick Bate had a huge part to play in my coach education, somebody who made you think, who stimulated you to go and learn more about the game, and to really study and think about coaching in a deeper sense.

“Dick was treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for a brain tumour, sadly passing away in April 2018. Whilst he was being treated, Dick decided that he wanted to raise money for the Giles’ Trust, which was set up by my fellow sportsman Ashley Giles and his wife Stine after she was treated for brain tumours at QEHB.”

He said the trust did amazing work funding world class brain tumour research and buying cutting edge medical equipment.

Dick, who was a former director of Ross Town FC, had a huge influence on English football, particularly as chief coach of the England youth set up in the 1990s and early 2000s.

As well as his long assocation with the English FA, Dick also coached Leeds United to the First Division title in 1992 under Howard Wilkinson,and worked with Watford, Cardiff City and Burnley, as well as doing stints as technical director of the Malaysia and Canada football associations.

Last summer, the English FA honoured Dick by naming one of their dedicated coaching pitches after him at their St George’s Park home.

They said: “He was an artist, and the football pitch was his canvas.”

One of many football-related lots auctioned off at the dinner included an exclusive trip to meet Gareth Southgate and the England team at their training ground.

There were also signed football shirts from every Premier League club and an England 2018 World Cup signed shirt.

Dick’s wife Maggie said: “I am so grateful to everyone at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, especially consultant, Ismail Ughratdar, who treated Dick.

“I wanted to find a way to raise some money to support the work they do there for patients with brain tumours.”