TRIBUTES have been paid to a larger than life Wrexham fan.

Carl Tunnah, 62, had been attending Wrexham matches since he was a babe in arms, as his parents, Bryan and June, ran the kiosk at The Racecourse.

He once attended more than 900 matches, home and away, without missing one, such was his dedication to the club.

He passed away at Wrexham Maelor Hospital on Wednesday (August 5).

Every Wrexham fan has at least one memory of Carl, probably more, and they have been paying tribute to a "True Red".

The Leader:

Carl Tunnah with then Wrexham manager Joey Jones

His brother Neal, 57, is planning his funeral, the date of which is yet to be decided, and he hopes Carl's friends and fellow supporters can attend outside where they can maintain social distancing.

Neal said: "He was very well known. He was larger than life, I think he was loved.

"He had been going, I'm being honest, since he was a baby because my dad used to do the kiosk at the football club. I'm sure it's since two-weeks-old that he's been going.

"We were brought up in the family of Wrexham Football Club."

"It was 900 odd matches he went to on the trot, home and away.

"He enjoyed himself, he liked his beer. He lived for Wrexham and beer. He supported his team, he always stuck up for his team."

At one time Carl was the fans' columnist with the Leader, and later for the Red Passion website, writing under the name King Carl.

Carl had several jobs during his life, including working on the buses for Crosville, where he would pay other members of staff to swap shifts so he could watch his beloved Wrexham.

Unfortunately, due to ill health, Carl had not been to a match in about four years.

He had been at the Maelor since March, he had pneumonia and had tested positive for coronavirus.

Tributes have been paid to Carl on social media and the Red Passion Wrexham AFC message board.

One fan said: "The guy was simply a legend in lots of ways. Really friendly to fans like me who only went to a few away games a season."

Another said: "I'm sure many other fans of my age will echo this but Tunnah, like Jacko, were the characters who were instantly recognisable when I started watching games both home and away. It wouldn't be an away day without hearing Jacko or seeing Carl and his bluetooth/beet mat. Unique and fiercely loyal characters like these two (and others) really add to the matchday experience for me.

"RIP Tunnah, you were one of a kind."

And another said: "I'm just having a beer and reflecting on time - another true red who has left us - thinking of all the times we shared travelling around the country in the back of a supporters coach - Carl T - he lived and breathed Wrexham FC - a larger than life character."