MALCOLM Huntington was a legend in York sporting circles. A journalist of the old school – always scrupulous about details and deadlines – he rose from copy boy to become the Yorkshire Evening Press’s sports editor, winning the MBE for services to local journalism along the way.

For a staggering 45 years he reported on York City, following the club through thick and thin and covering more than 2,000 matches. That made him a hard act to follow for the young reporters who tried to fill his very large shoes.

And yet in many ways it was for his achievements beyond journalism that he will be best remembered.

A keen golfer, he was also in his youth a talented tennis player who was four times York singles tennis champion. And he went on to become a top international tennis umpire, officiating at six Wimbledon finals as well as two Olympics.

As an umpire, perhaps his most famous moment came in a confrontation with John McEnroe. Complaining about being correctly foot-faulted, the tennis professional told him: “For a guy who can’t add two plus two, you’re doing a wonderful job.” Malcolm took it in his stride – the mark of a good umpire – acknowledging afterwards: “He was right. Maths was my worst subject at school.”

Now this doyen of York sports journalism has gone. He has died at the age of 82, leaving a widow, Gina, two children and four grandchildren.

Journalism today is very different to when Malcolm was in his prime. We’ll probably never see his like again. Perhaps the world is the poorer for it.