THERE aren’t many local sports reporters who get to come off best in an altercation with John McEnroe. Malcolm Huntington, The Press’s legendary former sports editor, managed it - although he was umpiring a Wimbledon tennis match rather than representing The Press at the time.

Malcolm, who died last month aged 82, combined 45 years reporting on York City with being a top-class international umpire. Yesterday hundreds of former colleagues, friends and family filled St Paul’s Church in Heslington for his funeral. He may have passed on: but he’s left behind him wonderful memories of a true sporting gentleman.