Long-serving former regional daily sports editor dies aged 64
Journalist was 'integral part' of club's rise to Premier League
Chris Giles - known as Gilesey - spent 25 years at Brighton daily The Argus, most of it as sports editor.
His stint coincided with the dramatic fall and rise of Brighton and Hove Albion, from going bust and being forced to sell their former Goldstone Ground home, to their eventual ascent to the Premier League.
Chris, along with former editor Simon Bradshaw, was credited by Seagulls fans as being part of the push to build the club's Amex stadium and their subsequent drive towards top flight football.
One contributor on Albion fan website North Stand Chat said: “Chris was indirectly an integral part of the Albion’s amazing journey back to the top table.
“Alongside Simon Bradshaw … we have a lot to thank these two visionaries for because … they, alongside local radio, did so much before social media to influence the local decision-makers that we needed help and local government support.”
Another contributor praised his encyclopaedic knowledge of Sussex sport, saying: "He was astoundingly encouraging on a personal level."
Simon himself described Chris's death as “very sad news” and “shocking”, adding: “He was a lovely guy and an excellent colleague.”
Chris, pictured, was born in August 1961 and grew up near Oxford. After graduating with a degree in politics and history, he completed a periodical journalism course at City University.
He began his professional life as a sports reporter on the Middlesex and West London Weekender, covering Brentford, although he was a lifelong Chelsea fan.
Chris moved to the West Sussex County Times in Horsham in 1985 and was sports editor by the time he left five for the Argus years later.
He remained with the paper until 2015, although he took a four-month sabbastical in 2003 to volunteer at a safari camp in Botswana.
Chris’s widow, Christine, said that he never had any ambition to work in Fleet Street. She said: “Chris was totally passionate about sport. Working at the Argus was a dream job.
“He was proud to lead a talented group of journalists and often talked of the satisfaction he got from the success of the Sports Argus.”
Chris became unwell last November and a tumour was found. His treatment seemed successful at first but he late returned to hospital and spent his final three weeks at St Barnabas House hospice, in Worthing.
His funeral is due to take place today at 3pm at Downs Crematorium, Brighton, followed by a wake at the Rotunda, in Preston Park.
