Harry: Chaddy FC's rock

Harry Mayall

ONE of amateur football's legends, Harry Mayall, has passed away at the age of 73, writes JOHN GILDER.

Tributes have poured in for the popular and highly regarded statesman of the game, who served Chadderton Football Club as a player, manager, director and chairman for close on half a century.

Harry, who moved from Oldham to Stalmine on the Fylde coast several years ago but still found time to watch his beloved club most Saturdays, had always been the glue that held the club together.

Derek Glynn, president of Chadderton FC, said: "If it wasn't for Harry Mayall, there wouldn't be a Chadderton Football Club.

"Harry was a one-off and as good a tradesman as you could ever meet. He was a great lad."

Those tradesman skills were put to good use in the early 1980s when he was responsible for the overhaul of Chadderton's facilities to satisfy the conditions of entrance into the North West Counties League.

Close friend John Regan said: "He was a lovely bloke, soft-hearted but Chadderton FC through and through."

Current Chadderton FC chairman Bob Sopel, who replaced Harry in 2012, said: "He was the rock of the club and without him there wouldn't be a Chadderton FC.

"Harry will be sadly missed and certainly remembered by everyone at the club."

Funeral announcements have yet to be made.

CHADDERTON will be keen to bounce back from their last-minute 5-4 defeat at Cheadle in midweek when they host Litherland REMYCA - who have won three of their four league games to date - in their First Division clash.