TRIBUTES have been paid to long-serving Hull KR radio commentator Chris Park, who has died.
Mr Park, who had been suffering from cancer, had covered Rovers games since the 1990s and was popular with the club's fans and other sports broadcasters.
Matt Dean, sports output editor for BBC Radio Humberside who the commentator worked for as a freelancer, said his reliable, positive attitude would be greatly missed.
Mr Dean said: "He was a lovely guy, a very dedicated journalist and you couldn't meet a nicer person.
"People are saying lots of nice things about him. Every tribute I've read and every feeling people have expressed has been very sincere.
"He's a really big loss to us and we're still trying to get our heads around it."
Fans who had tuned into Mr Park's match reports every Sunday for years agreed.
Supporter Sue Walford, who lives in west Hull, always looked forward to hearing his voice.
She said: "I'd known Chris for many years and he was Hull Kingston Rovers through and through.
"The club and Radio Humberside has lost too soon a great friend.
"All sympathy to his family. We are so shocked."
Mr Dean remembers his colleague as an efficient operator with a great turn of phrase and a fanatical interest in rugby league.
He was not just popular with his chosen club, but respected in the sport as a whole.
The editor said: "Whenever you turned the radio on when Hull KR were playing, you could guarantee Chris would be there.
"He had such great knowledge of the club and of the sport as well.
"You can just feel the love people had for him, you can read the tweets and see the sentiments are all sincere. We loved him dearly and he will be sorely missed, there's no question of that."
Dozens of people took to Twitter to send their condolences after the news broke.
BBC Radio Five Live controller Jonathan Wall was among those paying their respects.
He wrote: "Very sad to hear Hull KR commentator Chris Park has died.
"I was [Radio] Humberside presenter when he did his first Rovers game in '95. Gentleman."
Legions of fans also tweeted their thanks for Mr Park's constant support.
Richard Lusmore wrote: "Sad news about @RadioHumberside's #HKR commentator Chris Park. That's one particular Sunday service that just won't be the same."
Former KR player Paul Cooke, who is now with Doncaster RLFC, said: "God bless the Park family. A softly-spoken, genuine, good man who will be sadly missed."
