WIMBORNE Town’s FA Vase-winning assistant manager and ex-Portsmouth footballer Nick Jennings has died at the age of 70.

Born in Wellington in Somerset, he grew up with one brother, Colin, within a rugby-loving family and did not play football seriously until the age of 13.

He was signed by Plymouth Argyle in August 1963, where he played 98 times and scored 10 goals.

His performances saw him come to the attention of George Smith at Portsmouth, who signed him in January 1967 at the age of 21, where he stayed until 1974.

During this time, the left-winger played 227 times and scored 50 goals for Pompey, winning him the Player of the Year trophy in 1970 after being voted as the fans' favourite. This achievement would go on to be recognised once again in 2014 when he was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame.

After leaving Pompey he moved across to the USA, playing a summer in the North American Soccer League for the Dallas Tornado.

Nick then returned to the UK and was signed for Exeter City on a free transfer, where he scored 15 goals in 124 matches before retiring at the age of 32.

From here, he retrained as a probation officer which he did for 15 years, before going on to work as a CAFCASS guardian where he represented children in family court cases, then working as a court welfare officer until retiring aged 63.

Nick also coached at various Wessex League clubs over the years, most notably Wimborne where he stepped down as manager to become Alex Pike’s right-hand man when the club won the FA Vase Final at Wembley in 1992.

Outside of his working life, he met his future wife, Lesley, at a disco in Plymouth at the age of 17 and they went on to marry in 1967 on the news that he was transferring to Portsmouth. The happy couple welcomed two daughters, Nicole and Heidi, who have welcomed their children Nicolas and Celia, Guy and Anna.

Lesley and Nick lived in Bearwood until around two years ago when they moved to Barton on Sea.

Nick died on Saturday, June 4 at the age of 70. His funeral will take place at Bournemouth Crematorium on Monday, June 20 at 11am.