Goodbye to Barrow's oldest fan.
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Middleton Nick
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Re: Goodbye to Barrow's oldest fan.
Great half time tribute.You had a granddad to be proud of gaffer (Paul)
Re: Goodbye to Barrow's oldest fan.
Brought a tear, lovely tribute.
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thegaffer77
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Re: Goodbye to Barrow's oldest fan.
Thanks everyone. Really pleased that we could do it for him. 97, what an age, just so grateful I had him in my life for so long. It was strange not having him there yesterday. Thanks again Barrow AFC.
Stood behind Ray Wilkie for years. Best education I ever had.
Re: Goodbye to Barrow's oldest fan.
A great and fitting tribute Gaffer and great to hear the Barrow AFC family united in one minutes applause.
Re: Goodbye to Barrow's oldest fan.
A TRIBUTE TO BARROW’S OLDEST FAN
By Paul Puckey, Ted’s grandson, from the Barrow v Cheltenham Town programme
It is with great sadness, but tinged with an overwhelming sense of pride, to announce the passing of my granddad, Ted Beach. Ted was no ordinary Barrow AFC fan. He still made his way to Holker Street at the grand old age of 97.
Ted, of Laburnum Crescent, was a regular fixture at home games and could be found on the Popular Side, right on the half-way line, wearing his trilby with hip flask tucked away for safe keeping. He even had the energy to make his way to the Crossbar for a half-time pint!
Ted was born in 1918 and his first Barrow game was in 1928 at 10 years-old. He became hooked at being a Bluebird and his passion continued for another 87 years.
One of Ted’s favourite sayings was “You’ve got to keep going” and at 97 years-old, he certainly did, both in life and to Holker Street itself. Just imagine the life changes Ted experienced, never mind the ups and downs of his favourite team!
Ted went from a gunner in France during the Second World War, to a riveter, rate fixer and eventually into the planning office at Vickers. A hearty 48 years of graft in the yard and through thick and thin, he just kept going. One of my favourite memories is seeing granddad beaming with pride after the Wembley 2010 Trophy Final victory - an image I’ll treasure for life.
Ted was a wonderful role model for his four children, five grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. He is now back with his loving wife Molly, smiling down on us at Holker Street and willing us on to victory.
Thank you to all at Barrow AFC for helping keep my granddad going. Rest in peace, Ted. A great man. We will miss you.
By Paul Puckey, Ted’s grandson, from the Barrow v Cheltenham Town programme
It is with great sadness, but tinged with an overwhelming sense of pride, to announce the passing of my granddad, Ted Beach. Ted was no ordinary Barrow AFC fan. He still made his way to Holker Street at the grand old age of 97.
Ted, of Laburnum Crescent, was a regular fixture at home games and could be found on the Popular Side, right on the half-way line, wearing his trilby with hip flask tucked away for safe keeping. He even had the energy to make his way to the Crossbar for a half-time pint!
Ted was born in 1918 and his first Barrow game was in 1928 at 10 years-old. He became hooked at being a Bluebird and his passion continued for another 87 years.
One of Ted’s favourite sayings was “You’ve got to keep going” and at 97 years-old, he certainly did, both in life and to Holker Street itself. Just imagine the life changes Ted experienced, never mind the ups and downs of his favourite team!
Ted went from a gunner in France during the Second World War, to a riveter, rate fixer and eventually into the planning office at Vickers. A hearty 48 years of graft in the yard and through thick and thin, he just kept going. One of my favourite memories is seeing granddad beaming with pride after the Wembley 2010 Trophy Final victory - an image I’ll treasure for life.
Ted was a wonderful role model for his four children, five grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. He is now back with his loving wife Molly, smiling down on us at Holker Street and willing us on to victory.
Thank you to all at Barrow AFC for helping keep my granddad going. Rest in peace, Ted. A great man. We will miss you.
Re: Goodbye to Barrow's oldest fan.
ALAN ALWAYS NEEDED HIS FOOTBALL ‘FIX’
From the Barrow v Cheltenham Town programme
The Bluebirds lost one of their keenest supporters just before Christmas with the death of Alan Gordon at the age of 75.
Alan, of Dalton, always stood on the Ray Wilkie terraces with his pals Vic and Charlie (known as the Last of the Summer Wine crew) unless it got too cold and then they found refuge sitting in the grandstand.
Alan, who worked at Glaxo until taking early retirement in 1992 to look after his ill wife Jean, just needed his football “fix” every weekend. So if Barrow were not at home, he would find another game to go to – be it Carlisle, Preston, Blackpool or some obscure non-League team. And because he didn’t drive, he always had to rely on public transport.
At the end of every game, wherever it might be, he took great pleasure in texting his son Ian with the score and attendance. It was only then that Ian knew where he had been - and Ian, who was involved with Dalton United, used to reciprocate this service even if his message said “Drew 0-0; attendance 11.”
Alan would also return with programmes that he would distribute amongst his pals in Barrow. Just before Christmas, Alan visited his daughter Shirley in Southend and she tried, unsuccessfully, to get tickets for the West Ham v Stoke City Premiership game. Undaunted, Alan took her to Billericay v Hendon in the Ryman Premier League!
The club’s condolences go Alan‘s daughter Shirley, son Ian and Alan’s six grandchildren.
At our game with Tranmere last month tributes were also paid in honour of lost fans Steve Neep, Paul Noblet, Bobby Rigg and Mark Ebbs, who died in a road traffic accident on the A595 near Askam and had been a steward at the ground.
From the Barrow v Cheltenham Town programme
The Bluebirds lost one of their keenest supporters just before Christmas with the death of Alan Gordon at the age of 75.
Alan, of Dalton, always stood on the Ray Wilkie terraces with his pals Vic and Charlie (known as the Last of the Summer Wine crew) unless it got too cold and then they found refuge sitting in the grandstand.
Alan, who worked at Glaxo until taking early retirement in 1992 to look after his ill wife Jean, just needed his football “fix” every weekend. So if Barrow were not at home, he would find another game to go to – be it Carlisle, Preston, Blackpool or some obscure non-League team. And because he didn’t drive, he always had to rely on public transport.
At the end of every game, wherever it might be, he took great pleasure in texting his son Ian with the score and attendance. It was only then that Ian knew where he had been - and Ian, who was involved with Dalton United, used to reciprocate this service even if his message said “Drew 0-0; attendance 11.”
Alan would also return with programmes that he would distribute amongst his pals in Barrow. Just before Christmas, Alan visited his daughter Shirley in Southend and she tried, unsuccessfully, to get tickets for the West Ham v Stoke City Premiership game. Undaunted, Alan took her to Billericay v Hendon in the Ryman Premier League!
The club’s condolences go Alan‘s daughter Shirley, son Ian and Alan’s six grandchildren.
At our game with Tranmere last month tributes were also paid in honour of lost fans Steve Neep, Paul Noblet, Bobby Rigg and Mark Ebbs, who died in a road traffic accident on the A595 near Askam and had been a steward at the ground.
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