Danny Fullbrook

He had been chief football writer of the Daily Star since 2000, but began his career on the Hull Daily Mail reporting on Hull City.

Mr Fullbrook came from Staines, Middlesex, and was the son of James and Sylvia Fullbrook who gave him a love of the game as fanatical supporters of Fulham Football Club. It was a passion he in turn passed to his son Edward, 10, taking him to matches at Craven Cottage whenever he could.

Mr Fullbrook studied at Hull University and trained in journalism at college in Preston before joining the Hull Daily Mail. From there, he went to cover Midlands football for the Birmingham Evening Mail and then the Daily Star.

He then moved to London to work for the Sunday Mirror before returning to the Daily Star as chief football writer. At 28 he was the youngest by some years to have such a position on a national newspaper, but as a larger than life character who was exuberant and outspoken, quickly made his mark as he became one of the outstanding journalists of his generation.

In the cut-throat world of football reporting he was trusted and respected on both sides of the game – by competitive colleagues on rival newspapers, and by some of the biggest names in the game, a number of whom contacted him to offer support during his illness, including David Beckham.

Tributes were also paid to him by the England football manager Roy Hodgson – who, when manager of Fulham, knew Mr Fullbrook as a reporter covering the team and as a supporter – and the current England captain Steven Gerrard.

His passion for the game, and his knowledge of it, came out not only in his writing but also as a regular and forthright guest on television football programmes.

He was also co-author of a number of books on football, including one on Fulham’s first season in the Premier League

Mr Fullbrook, who was separated, is survived by his son Edward, his parents and sister.

A funeral service will be held at Mortlake Crematorium, Richmond-on-Thames, on Monday at 4pm.