ALBION have offered their deepest condolences to the family of Richard Healey, the organiser of the Baggies Barge.

Lifelong fan Richard, from Warwickshire, passed away aged 53 on Thursday evening after a short illness.

Richard was the brains behind the increasingly popular Baggies Barge - a narrowboat service which transports supporters to selected home games from the Gas Street Basin, Birmingham, to the Navigation Pub, Middlemore Road, West Bromwich.

The waterbus has been running for the past two seasons and Richard worked hand in hand with the club to make it a success.

Wife Kay, who had been married to Richard for ten years, said: "Richard was a wonderful husband, a fantastic father and everybody's friend. He will be sorely missed.

"Richard had a great zest for life and especially loved the Albion and canals.

"We talked recently about our best achievements and one of the things he was really proud of was the Baggies Barge because it brought his two great passions - the waterways and the Albion - together.

"Richard was immensely proud of his two lovely daughters, Katie and Anna. On behalf of the family, I would like to thank everyone who has sent one of the many tributes to Richard's Facebook page. It means a lot to us at this time."

Albion's finance director, Mark Jenkins, said: "As a club, we are deeply shocked and saddened to hear of Richard's passing. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.

"Richard was a lovely guy who was passionate about the Albion and the waterways.

"He just wanted everyone to enjoy travelling to and from games on a narrowboat and worked tirelessly to make the Baggies Barge a success.