Bognor boss pays tribute to club stalwarts who did everything for the club

Much missed - former Rocks kitman Bernie Gumbrell

Jack Pearce has paid a heartfelt tribute to club stalwarts who have died - saying their service to the club helped make it what is it today.

All at Nyewood Lane are mourning the recent deaths of Bernie Gumbrell and Graham Macintosh. Both served the club for many years and in a variety of different roles - giving up countless hours of their time for free to help keep the club thriving.

Bernie, who died peacefully at home at the age of 91 and had developed dementia late in life, started at Nyewood Lane at the same time as Pearce 50 years ago.

He had been a highly-regarded kitman for much of the five decades since. Even when he could no longer perform that role, he'd do other jobs around Nyewood Lane. He was a regular at games until recently and a few years ago was delighted to receive a long service award from the BRTFC supporters' club.

Graham Macintosh, ex-Rocks player and later helper and friend of the club

Also being mourned is Graham Macintosh, who Pearce said had been a player and a committee member then continued to support the club on a voluntary basis through his work as a gas engineer.

Their deaths follow the loss of other club servants in recent times like Tony Baker and Doug Glossop - all much-loved members of the 'Rocks family'.

"In a way," said Pearce, "both Bernie and Graham are very typical of the type of person who has helped us over many, many years. They were always there, always available, doing what the club needed them do to, never complaining and always just getting on with the job. Both will be sadly missed.

"Bernie joined with me in 1970 and did all sorts of jobs but will mainly be remembered as kitman. He also helped Tony Baker - and there's another stalwart we have lost relatively recently - with the reserves. Bernie was an excellent kitman - I don't think he ever lost one bit of kit.