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| Voice of the Boro Ali Brownlee of BBC Tees dies | Voice of the Boro Ali Brownlee of BBC Tees dies |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| BBC Tees presenter and football commentator Ali Brownlee has died three months after being diagnosed with cancer. | BBC Tees presenter and football commentator Ali Brownlee has died three months after being diagnosed with cancer. |
| Mr Brownlee, 56, was known as the "Voice of the Boro" after commentating on his beloved Middlesbrough FC for more than 30 years, as well as hosting the BBC Tees breakfast show. | |
| He died at his home in Middlesbrough on Sunday night surrounded by family. | He died at his home in Middlesbrough on Sunday night surrounded by family. |
| Tributes are being paid across Teesside. | Tributes are being paid across Teesside. |
| For the latest news and more tributes to Ali Brownlee click here. | For the latest news and more tributes to Ali Brownlee click here. |
| Fellow BBC Tees presenter Neil Green, said: "We are all heartbroken by today's news. | |
| "Away from the microphone, Ali was such a warm, generous and kind man who genuinely cared for his work colleagues. | "Away from the microphone, Ali was such a warm, generous and kind man who genuinely cared for his work colleagues. |
| "I will miss his energy, his voice and his smile that I arrived to work to every morning. | "I will miss his energy, his voice and his smile that I arrived to work to every morning. |
| "The North East, Middlesbrough and BBC Tees is a darker place without him today." | "The North East, Middlesbrough and BBC Tees is a darker place without him today." |
| Comedian Bob Mortimer went to school with Mr Brownlee and said: "He was as lovely a lad then as he is now." | Comedian Bob Mortimer went to school with Mr Brownlee and said: "He was as lovely a lad then as he is now." |
| Hundreds of fans offered their best wishes to Mr Brownlee after his diagnosis was announced and Middlesbrough supporters held large scale shows of support at matches. | Hundreds of fans offered their best wishes to Mr Brownlee after his diagnosis was announced and Middlesbrough supporters held large scale shows of support at matches. |
| Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson said he had lost "a true friend". | |
| He added: "Alastair Brownlee was a man whose enthusiasm, passion and commitment were evident in everything he did, not just behind a microphone. | |
| "All Boro fans know about Ali and his legendary commentaries over three decades. But there was so much more to him than that. | |
| "His tireless charity work for people in the Teesside community he was so proud to represent was the mark of the man we all knew and loved. | |
| "He was more than a supporter. He loved the club and we loved him." | |
| Former Boro manager Tony Mowbray, now boss of Coventry City, added: "Ali was such a genuinely good human being. I was devastated when I heard a few months ago that he was ill. | |
| "Knowing him personally as well as professionally, he was so full of life and positivity. | |
| "When I turned up as the Boro manager on a match day, I'd often be coming in at the same time as Ali. His optimism made me laugh every time. He could never see anything other than a Boro victory." | |
| Mr Brownlee was born in Byelands Street in Middlesbrough, within shouting distance of the Boro's former stadium Ayresome Park. | Mr Brownlee was born in Byelands Street in Middlesbrough, within shouting distance of the Boro's former stadium Ayresome Park. |
| He began his career working in a bank before, in 1982, the BBC offered him the chance to report on Boro. | He began his career working in a bank before, in 1982, the BBC offered him the chance to report on Boro. |
| He regularly raised money for charities such as Children in Need, Sport Relief and Zoe's Place, a hospice for children for which he was an ambassador. | He regularly raised money for charities such as Children in Need, Sport Relief and Zoe's Place, a hospice for children for which he was an ambassador. |
| He was also closely involved with the Middlesbrough Foundation, the charity run by the football club and was a keen supporter of youth football in the area. | He was also closely involved with the Middlesbrough Foundation, the charity run by the football club and was a keen supporter of youth football in the area. |
| As well as following the ups and downs of Boro both at home and abroad, Mr Brownlee was also a well known personality in the North East and received the freedom of Middlesbrough. | As well as following the ups and downs of Boro both at home and abroad, Mr Brownlee was also a well known personality in the North East and received the freedom of Middlesbrough. |
| Another BBC Tees presenter, Lisa McCormick, said: "Sometimes you build up a picture of what a person's like by listening to them on the radio but it's not quite who they are. | Another BBC Tees presenter, Lisa McCormick, said: "Sometimes you build up a picture of what a person's like by listening to them on the radio but it's not quite who they are. |
| "In Ali's case, that big bubbly character full of passion and enthusiasm for life is exactly who he was in real life. | "In Ali's case, that big bubbly character full of passion and enthusiasm for life is exactly who he was in real life. |
| "Ali's positivity was relentless, I'll miss him terribly but I feel lucky to have known him, not only as a colleague but as a friend." | "Ali's positivity was relentless, I'll miss him terribly but I feel lucky to have known him, not only as a colleague but as a friend." |
| Northern Echo editor Peter Barron went head to head with Mr Brownlee in the daily headline challenge on the BBC Tees breakfast show. | Northern Echo editor Peter Barron went head to head with Mr Brownlee in the daily headline challenge on the BBC Tees breakfast show. |
| He said: "You always hear nice things about people when they pass away, in Ali's case he really was the nicest person you could meet, the most polite well mannered person that I ever met. | He said: "You always hear nice things about people when they pass away, in Ali's case he really was the nicest person you could meet, the most polite well mannered person that I ever met. |
| "He had a natural warmth about him, the mornings just aren't going to be the same. | "He had a natural warmth about him, the mornings just aren't going to be the same. |
| "Even if you never met him he was your friend." | "Even if you never met him he was your friend." |
| Though he was known as a Middlesbrough supporter, Hartlepool United have also paid tribute saying: "We are devastated to hear of the passing of Ali Brownlee, his knowledge, enthusiasm and passion will be missed enormously." | Though he was known as a Middlesbrough supporter, Hartlepool United have also paid tribute saying: "We are devastated to hear of the passing of Ali Brownlee, his knowledge, enthusiasm and passion will be missed enormously." |
| Sunderland and Everton have also both paid tributes online. | Sunderland and Everton have also both paid tributes online. |
| A statement from his family, including wife Wendy better known to listeners as Mrs B and daughters Alison and Emily, said: "We would like to thank everyone for their kind words and support at this very sad time. | A statement from his family, including wife Wendy better known to listeners as Mrs B and daughters Alison and Emily, said: "We would like to thank everyone for their kind words and support at this very sad time. |
| "Throughout his illness he maintained his positivity and hope of cheering on his beloved Boro back into the Premier League. | "Throughout his illness he maintained his positivity and hope of cheering on his beloved Boro back into the Premier League. |
| "He was Middlesbrough born and bred and loved his town and the people in it. He will be sadly missed by everyone." | "He was Middlesbrough born and bred and loved his town and the people in it. He will be sadly missed by everyone." |