A MINUTE’S applause was held before the start of a town football match in memory of a committee member of the club, reports Des Pugh.

Dave Uttley, 52, the treasurer of Monmouth Football Club, pictured right, passed away over the weekend after a short battle with cancer.

He was a familiar face, on and off the pitch, as he not only coached young footballers but played cricket for the 3rd and 4th team for the town.

The Yorkshireman who made Monmouth his home, was an active sportsman from an early age, playing in goal for Mexborough FC, a keen supporter of Sheffield Wednesday and an avid fisherman.

He had been a coach in the junior football squad leading to Junior Chair, Senior Chair and most recent as treasurer.

Dave spent ten years planning and organising, with others, the installation of the recently built football stand on the sportsground and instigated the girls’ football by inviting girls to join the squads in all age groups when coaching.

He helped by leading the team of volunteers to gain financial stability and provided each age group with balls and goals and cones. He also negotiated pitch space with rugby teams for matches and training.

He spent hours helping organise tournaments with the many volunteers, coaching alongside Mark Morris and Ian Morgan and was a familiar face on and off the sports scene.

Some 450 people paid tribute to him on social media, including the cricket team’s Dave Walters who said “One of life’s good guys and I will miss him a lot”.

Other comments such as “such a gentle man with thoughts for everyone bar himself” and “He really was one of life’s good guys and he will be missed by everyone who knew him” were poignant reminders of how much impact he had on the many people he came into contact with.

He leaves a wife, Louise, and three children, Charlotte, Sam and Callum, who was one of the Reserve footballers who played Goytre FC that afternoon.