doing it for the kids:
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Posted: April 21st 2008
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A great win yesterday, but we’re all experiencing mixed emotions right now.
I’ve been to a funeral today. Our ‘keeper’s grandad, known to all of us as “cycling grandad”, died recently from a heart attack – whilst out cycling, naturally.
Having played football himself til the ripe old age of 46, he then took up marathon running. After 15 years or so of that, he was told the knees were getting a bit dodgy, so he spent his last decade cycling like a demon.
Every Sunday morning he could be found on the touchline, rain or shine, whether his grandson was playing or not, supporting the team. Always a smile, non-stop encouragement for all the lads…and for me as well. He’d managed teams himself, and had an uncanny knack of knowing when I was getting particularly exasperated – a quiet word, that smile, and I was soon back on track.
Invariably, wherever we were playing in a county-wide League with its share of long journeys, he’d cycled there. He even volunteered to run the line on a couple of occasions when younger legs were not available.
All the parents from the team were devastated by his passing. Many of them made it to the funeral. A couple of players braved it too. His grandson wore his goalie top and team jacket.
I’m happy that his last season watching the lads was such a successful one which I know he enjoyed. We’re all dedicating our promotion to his memory. The touchline on Sunday mornings will never be quite the same again.