Southern Counties East side Punjab United have renamed their ground in memory of their former groundsman

Steve Cook died last month and since the announcement the club was inundated with messages of condolence. The club paid their final farewell to ‘Cookie’ on Monday.

In tribute the club’s Gravesend ground will now be named the Steve Cook Stadium.

The club said: “He was a fantastic guy, was loved by everyone at the club and by all who knew him.

“He will be missed by so many people involved in the Kent football scene.

“The owners Chipie and Sonny Sian wanted his legacy at the club to continue and saw it fitting to name the stadium after Cookie. He was a key member of the club's history and this is a way of remembering him and what he meant to the club and local community.”

On his passing, the club were keen to highlight the time Cookie had given to the club, helping four years ago as the club started groudn work to build the new stadium by the Elite Venue.

The club said: “Cookie was there from the beginning and he helped transform the ground and make it what it is today.

“Rain or shine he was always there for the club ensuring all the pitches were ready for all the junior, youth and adult teams. If he wasn’t working at that ground he was always in the stands supporting the team.

“They definitely don’t make people like Cookie anymore and he really was one in a million.”

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