Legendary Kingstonian boss Geoff Chapple reckons former assistant Colin Lippiatt played a vital part in his success as Ks manager.

The 68-year-old former Yeovil Town and Woking manager, who died of pancreatic cancer on Friday, helped Chapple lift the FA Trophy three times in four years during a 12-year spell in charge at the Cards - before their defection to Kingsmeadow.

Their partnership helped lay the platform for Kingstonian’s elevation into the Conference and back-to-back Trophy triumphs in 1999 and 2000.

Lippiatt had departed for the Glovers before those successes, but Chapple - who remained close friends with his sidekick until he died - admitted his influence on his career was massive.

“We had one of those special bonds between us. We both liked similar players and I knew if he said I should take a look at so-and-so then he would be a good player,” he said.

“He was a real character. There was laughter and ups-and-downs, but we were like a couple of brothers. It was a wonderful relationship and we had some fun.

“He was absolutely vital to me. I’ve always said our success was down to the pair of us. It was 50-50 all the way.

“His enthusiasm was very infectious and he was just great to have around. There are too many good memories to mention.

“There isn’t a person in this country that knew as much about non-League football as he did. He didn’t stay long with me at Ks, but he had a massive influence on my future success.”

Chapple had arranged to catch-up with bed-ridden Lippiatt on Monday, but was told by his former assistant’s wife it would be better to see him before the weekend after he took a turn for the worse.

“We were still close and I had been speaking with him right up until his death. He was still very sharp,” added Chapple.

“I got to his house on Friday just after he had been taken to hospital and was waiting for him to come home, but he never made it.

“It is very sad. I have warned his wife there will be a lot of people at the funeral because he knew so many people.”

Lippiatt’s memory will be marked with a minute’s applause at Woking’s FA Cup tie against Eastleigh at Kingfield on Saturday.

His funeral will take place on November 3 at Easthampstead Park Crematorium in Wokingham at 12 noon.