Leeds grassroots football mourns Micah Richards' dad Lincoln Richards | OneFootball

Leeds’ grassroots football community has paid tribute to Lincoln Richards, father of former England defender Micah Richards, after his death.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, Micah was told shortly before going on air as a BBC pundit for England’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina, which Thomas Tuchel’s side lost 2-1 late on.

Lincoln moved from Basseterre to England in the 1960s and ran Chapeltown Fforde Grene FC with close friend Charlie Thomas. He was seen as dependable and dreamed of installing floodlights at Bracken Edge.

Thomas knew him for over 20 years and said Lincoln sent barrels of clothes and kits to Basseterre, capital of Saint Kitts and Nevis. His family are understood to continue the practice after his death on Wednesday morning.

He also served as Yorkshire Amateurs chairman until 2017 and helped save the club from closure in 2012. Lincoln supported Chapeltown’s famed West Indian Carnival.

Friends and colleagues remembered a warm, good humoured gentleman whose presence filled a room, and many shared memories on social media of his support for Micah.

Despite the news, Micah is expected to remain in the United States and will be part of the BBC’s punditry team for Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. He was praised for professionalism on Wednesday’s broadcast, and later wrote on Instagram that his father was his greatest fan who barely missed a game.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk