Gary Lineker posts Twitter tribute to late father Barry

Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker has spoken of his sadness following the death of his father Barry.

Former England star Lineker posted a message to his 6.5 million Twitter followers revealing that the former market trader had passed away.

Barry ran a fruit and veg stall for more than 40 years and the star striker helped out in school holidays, even continuing to occasionally pitch in while playing for Leicester City in the early 1980s.

Gary, now 56, wrote on Twitter: “Deeply saddened to tell you of the passing of my dad.

“A special person, a popular man and a wonderful father. Will miss him greatly. RIP Dad.”

Writing in the Daily Express in 2013, Gary spoke about the influence his “real character” father had on him growing up.

The older man ran Lineker’s Pick Your Own at Leicester Indoor Market.

Gary wrote: “Going back to the market where he used to work brought back lots of childhood memories for me and I reckon seeing him slogging away was one of the things that motivated me to get into sport.

“He’d have to get up at four in the morning to buy the produce, he’d man the stall all day, then do the bookwork at home at night, so if ever there was the motivation to be a footballer and just do a few hours training a day that was it.

“I’d help Dad out during the summer holidays and Christmas and it seemed like really hard work to me.”