WELL-KNOWN local football manager, sportsman and business owner George Lee has died at the age of 83.

George was born in Ilford in 1939, developing a love for football and playing for numerous teams at a high level in London and Essex in his early years.

He had a trial with Chelsea and was offered professional terms with Fulham but decided to work in the stock market instead, sticking with amateur-level football, and playing in the Southern League.

George also played for Ubique United in the Sunday leagues, and the team went on to win the first team FA Sunday Cup shortly after he moved to the Island.

During his National Service, he met his future wife, Moira, while on holiday, and they were married in Putney in 1961.

In January 1965, they moved to the Island, and George rapidly became involved with Island sports – mostly football with some cricket.

In the early days, he played cricket for Whitecroft and football for Whitecroft and Barton and Merston Monarchs.

He went on to manage Wootton, Brading Town and Seaview.

In the early 1970s, he founded Ubique as a Sunday league team in honour of his previous side, and they went on to win the first Island Sunday Cup final.

Isle of Wight County Press: George Lee later in life.George Lee later in life.

George developed a chain of greengrocery and convenience stores including Ashey Stores, and stores in Newport, Freshwater and Totland.

In the late 1980s, George returned to his financial roots and became Island manager for Commercial Union Financial Services and became shirt sponsor for Brading A team, which he was managing.

He then moved from finance into property and ran Town and Village Estate Agents in the 1990s and 2000s, with offices in Newport, Cowes and Shanklin.

In his retirement, George enjoyed aquafit, Zumba and squash, at the Heights and the Waterside Pool in Ryde, before he and his wife moved to be with son Tim in Shropshire.