A family man, an astute businessman and a passionate supporter of football.

That’s how mourners at the funeral of Jim Thompson heard the former chairman of Maidstone United described.

Around 250 people gathered in St Francis Church in Maidstone on Friday to pay their last respects to Mr Thompson, a former managing director of the Kent Messenger Group, who died from cancer in January, aged 75.

Peter Bennett, his friend for 46 years, related how Mr Thompson was invited to join the KM in 1965 after his innovative sales methods had quadrupled profits on the Liverpool Echo.

Mr Thompson went on to oversee the launch of the Evening Post for the company and in 1969 met the new challenge of free newspapers by launching the company’s own free series.

But, said Mr Bennett, he was a man of dreams. He said: "Like all Geordies, he loved football and he wanted to join the board of Maidstone United.

"When he became its chairman, he was so happy and proud, it was a dream come true."

Bill Williams, one of Mr Thompson’s managers at the Stones, said: "Non-league football will always remember him."

Describing Mr Thompson as "a larger than life character", he said "Jim’s proudest moment was in 1989 when the club gained promotion to the football league."

The service of thanksgiving was conducted by Father John Clarke and included a poem read by Mr Thompson’s grandson Titus Chester.

It was followed by the committal at St Nicholas’ Church, Otham, and a reception at the Russel Hotel, Maidstone.