Former FAI president Charlie Walsh passed away on Thursday night at his home in Drogheda. In his eighties, Walsh had been linked with the game for many decades and he oversaw his hometown club earn election to the League of Ireland in 1968.

In his time, Walsh was a member of the FAI Senior Council and management committee and was FAI president from 1974 to 1976. He was a member of UEFA's organising committee from 1988 to 1990.

His longest-serving role was that of FAI treasurer, taking in the glory years of the 1980s and 1990s, up to his retirement from that role in 1994.

"Charlie had a long connection with the game and he had wide experience of the FAI's financial affairs during the highs and lows of the association," said FAI president Pat Quigley.

"Charlie Walsh always treated his position with the utmost care, dedication and attention and, despite being a quiet man, he was a personality who was well respected by his colleagues in the game.

"The Association owes him a great debt of gratitude for the many years of hard work and commitment he put into the financial affairs of the FAI.

"We offer our sincere sympathies to his widow, Eugenie, and to his family."

FAI Chief Executive Bernard O'Byrne said: "I am saddened to learn of the passing of Charlie Walsh. He was a very dedicated football man and an astute businessman. His words of advice and encouragement will certainly be a loss to everybody in the FAI."

Honorary Secretary of the FAI Des Casey paid tribute to his fellow Louth native: "Charlie was a life-long friend and I am very sorry to hear of his death. We shared many football occasions together and Charlie was also a great friend of my late father, PJ Casey."