The former trade union activist and ex-merchant seaman died “peacefully” and surrounded by relatives at his care home, they said.

Though many may know him as a key figure of Sir Tony Blair’s New Labour project, across Sussex Mr Prescott is celebrated as helping to usher in the “new era of Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club”.

John Prescott with former Albion chairman Dick Knight at Withdean (Image: The Argus) Brighton and Hove Albion had been without a home since the Goldstone Ground was sold in 1997 and had been playing at the 6,500-capacity athletics stadium at Withdean since 1999, following a spell ground sharing at Gillingham.

That was until Mr Prescott, as deputy prime minister, finally confirmed that the club needed a 21st Century arena and gave permission for the Falmer site to be used in 2005.

Paul Samrah, one of the leaders of the Falmer For All campaign which sought to ensure Falmer became a new home for the new Brighton stadium, developed a relationship with the deputy prime minister and remembers him fondly.

Speaking to The Argus this morning, Paul said: “We knew that we had to have a jocular approach rather than an aggressive one to campaigning.

“Whether it was sending bouquets of flowers to John Prescott’s office on Valentine’s Day or even a card that said ‘roses are red, violets are blue, our new stadium is all down to you’ – which he had kept it in his kitchen and had a sense of pride that he was a recipient of it.

“Our humorous campaign had touched his heart.”

John Prescott visits Falmer Stadium construction (Image: The Argus) Paul mentioned that whilst John Prescott was at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (also known as the Kyoto Protocol) in Kyoto, Japan on December 1997, he was asked about progression with the Brighton stadium.

He added: “He had said when he was at the Kyoto Protocol summit in 1997 that he had people come and ask him what the news was on Brighton’s stadium.

“Everywhere he went he said he was met by ‘bloody Seagulls supporters’, we were always there, he knew about the campaign and about the nimby’s.

“All credit to John Prescott, as he came down to actually survey the site himself with no delegation with him and no one showing him around.

“That’s what made his mind up.”

John Prescott visits The Amex Stadium, with Nancy Platts, Peter Kyle and Martin Perry (Image: The Argus) In October 2005, news of Mr Prescott’s decision sparked joyous scenes of celebration across Sussex.

Elaine Evans, a long-time fan of The Albion and resident in the area, recalled:” Planning permission to build the Amex was refused, then Prescott intervenes and gave permission.

“It was announced on the radio and I dashed into the Hove Sainsbury’s and shouted out the news, running round the aisles.

"The staff at the entrance joined in ‘a stadium at last!’”

Brighton played their first match at the Amex in July 2011, a friendly against Tottenham.

Paul added: “John Prescott could see, as a visionary, the economic benefit and pride that the stadium would bring to Brighton and club.

“He saw through the nimby’s; he saw through the campaigning against the stadium and quite simply without John Prescott there would be no Falmer stadium, and the club would not be where it is today.

“John Prescott played a huge part in establishing Brighton and Hove Football Club in its new era and we will all remember him fondly.”