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

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.

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.

"People like Bernie and Graham - and the others we have lost in the past year or two - are unsung heroes at this level of football. Clubs couldn't operate without them. I can't speak highly enough of the contribution they made.

"Bernie would be at the ground every day seeing what needed to be done. The amount of time he spent at the club, it must have caused him trouble at home! He had a good sense of humour, which was a good job too as Maurice Warner and I used to wind him up all the time."

Rocks match secretary and former club secretary Pete Helsby was among those to pay tribute to Bernie on the club's fans' messageboard. He said: "Over the years, when visiting the lane as a referee, then as an assessor and then secretary, I recall some really funny conversations with dear Bernie.

"He really did have a sharp sense of humour. He was also a very methodical man and knew how to be a kitman in the finest sense of the word. He has time for everybody and certainly since his retirement and in the last couple of seasons he has been really missed at the club.

"Rest in peace Bernie and I am sure they will find you a job as kit man wherever it may be."

Graham Macintosh's son Paul was pleased to hear of tributes being paid to his dad: "He played in goal and at full-back for the Rocks. He always used to tell the story of when they played Colchester in the FA Cup in the early 70s - that was a highlight."

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