Sid’s daughter Rebecca with former Arsenal greats Ellen Maggs, Jenny Canty, Gemma Davison, Rachel Yankey and Katie Chapman, who all knew Sid from their early playing days [Catherine Etoe]

HE was, they said, “one of our own”.

The one who bought you hot tea when you were freezing on the side of the pitch, who dug out boots for kids that had none, who said “Just do it” when you did not think you could.

And on Saturday, much-loved grassroots football champion, the late Sid “Sidi” Hayes, was remembered for these kindnesses and more at a tribute match held in his honour in Regent’s Park.

More than 50 of Sid’s friends and former players pulled on their boots for the lighthearted “Sid I” versus “Sid E” knockabout, with many more cheering them on from the sidelines.

And though tears were shed, it was mostly laughter that echoed out across the grass.

Nobody quite knew the score, free-kick takers were decided off the back of “rock, paper, scissors, stone” contests and tiny tots took over once the old hands were too red in the face to carry on.

It was, his daughter Emma said, the kind of day Sid loved.

“That was him, he’d be chuckling on the sidelines with a cigarette in his mouth, cup of coffee in his hand and laughing,” Chelsea manager Emma told the New Journal.

“It’s great to see so many people that he’s impacted in his lifetime coming together and celebrating him. You can see from the turnout that my dad was really loved and valued in Camden.”

Tribute match organisers Richard Louch (left) and Will Cave with Sid’s wife of more than 60 years Miriam and their daughters Victoria, Rebecca and Emma [Catherine Etoe]

Somers Town-born Sid, who died in September aged 82, spent the best part of 50 years giving up his spare time to run teams for children, women and men in the borough, while also helping young coaches and organisers get their own projects up and running.

“He gave everybody a chance,” recalled friend of 40 years, Keith Louch. “If a kid hadn’t got boots, he’d go to his car, say what size and he’d have a pair for them.”

The Sid Hayes Cip was played at Regent’s Park [Catherine Etoe]

Keith’s son Richard added: “His heart was always in the right place. Everything he did was for the right reasons.”

It was a sentiment echoed by Regent’s Park Youth League organisers Will Cave and Sophie Sparrow, who credit Sid with helping to turn the competition into one of London’s biggest.

“I remember when the league had just started in 2000,” Will said. “I came to a meeting with Sid and the people at the park asked, ‘Can you fill 10 or 12 pitches with community use?’ and I said ‘I’m not sure’. But Sid said, ‘Just do it, take every pitch they’ve got!’ And look how it is now, it’s just amazing.”

He added: “And that’s why we’re here, we’re here to say thank you to Sid on behalf of every­one at the league, everyone in Camden and every­one he helped, which is so many people.”

Sid watching Arsenal Ladies back in the day [Catherine Etoe]

Others who first met Sid on those windswept park pitches when they were boys and young men agreed.

A 12-year-old Haverstock School pupil and KXL goalkeeper then, Dennis Owusu is now 34 and runs the referee rota for the youth league.

“Sid always looked after us and was always positive even if we lost,” Dennis said. “And he influenced me to be part of the league. I saw him dedicate his time and energy into us as kids and I want to do that. His influence was immense.”

Sid was born in Walker House, Somers Town, in 1941. The family home was bombed during the war and he liked to tell a story about his mother sheltering him and his sister Patricia under the kitchen table.

He went to St Aloysius School and lived for most of his life in the Curnock Estate in Plender Street, Camden Town, with his wife of more than 60 years Miriam.

Emma, who is now a well-recognised pundit on television and has led Chelsea to six Women’s Super League titles, has often recalled kicking a ball around the estate as a kid and her dad’s steadfast support for her football career.

Michael Martin, one of Sid’s former players at Samuel Lithgow, and PE teacher Abdi Ahmed [Catherine Etoe]

Abdi Ahmed, who knew Sid from the early youth league days and is now a PE teacher at Brecknock and Torriano Primary, also has fond memories of the man.

He recalled: “He was so kind, getting us a cup of tea when we needed. “And he was funny, always telling jokes on cold wintry Saturdays when we were putting up the nets.”

Youth league referee organiser Dennis Owusu and Kentish Town coach Thomas Looney [Catherine Etoe]

Will and Sophie saw Sid’s dedication to Camden’s District youngsters first-hand too, and remember how he would rock up to matches as far away as Lewisham on his scooter.

“He just had an incredible knowledge,” Sophie added. “Could really spot things in players and give you advice on how to get the best out of them. But he wouldn’t tell you how to do things.”

The talk now is of making the tribute match an annual event. “The turnout has been brilliant but he did a lot for a lot of people,” said Richard Louch. “Now we want to do it every year. He deserves it.”