TRIBUTES have been paid to Frank Holliday who ‘was Droitwich Spa Boys and Girls Football Club’ for almost 40 years.
Frank, who was nominated for the 2013 West Midlands Sports Unsung Hero and won the county’s equivalent award, died on Sunday at the age of 73.
He retired from the club two years ago after being diagnosed with cancer but returned recently to see his grandson Finley play for the team.
Droitwich Spa Boys and Girls FC chairman James Cowlishaw said: “Frank was Droitwich Spa Boys and Girls Football Club.
“He particularly loved watching the under six, seven and eights work their way through the club.
“Frank was a remarkable person, he did an enormous amount of work in the community and the football Club was his love.”
The club said in a statement it was ‘extremely saddened’ by his passing, praising Frank for his tireless hard worh.
“Frank was a huge factor in making Droitwich Spa Boys and Girls Football Club (DSBGFC) the success which it is today and his legacy will live on.”
At the club’s AGM on Wednesday, a minute’s silence was observed and discussions have taken place on how best to honour him.
Frank’s son Simon said: “Dad spent his whole life trying to look after people and making sure everybody had the best chance in life.
“He would have been humbled by all the comments and memories shared.
“I am so proud to call him my dad and like him very proud to part of a wonderful town called Droitwich.”
His other son Andy added: “We have been absolutely blown away by literally the hundreds of various messages we have received confirming what we knew already; what a ‘class act’ he really was.
“Something I learnt from my mate ‘Frankie’ was your life can and will be even more rewarding when you do things and put others first before yourself.”
Coun Richard Morris said: “Without Frank Droitwich Spa Boys and Girls Football Club would not have existed.”
And he praised community-minded Frank for his other roles in the town with SALT (Save a Lido Today) which helped return the outdoor pool to the town and for his work on the Droitwich Spa Neighbourhood Plan Group.
Frank is survived by his wife Joyce and his sons.
