Page 6 - Yate Town FC v Metropolitan Police 070423

Bluebells Tribute DAVID JAMES

Older supporters of our Club were sad to
learn that former Club Captain and
friend, Dave James, recently passed
away after battling cancer for five years.
Dave had fought this disease with typical
bravery but had endured a really rough
time before his death on Sunday 26 th
March.
Dave was a natural and inspiring leader,
an uncompromising and tough tackling
wing half who captained Yate Town from
the mid-seventies. He had previously
played for Frome Town and Yeovil Town,
and also the successful Beaufort Sunday
team, and was a good friend of many
local footballers despite living in the Bath
area.
Dave was the captain of the Yate team
when we achieved undoubtedly the most
important and memorable success
during our time in the Gloucestershire
County League. This was our victory in
the Final of the last ‘proper’ GFA Senior
Amateur Cup played at Eastville Stadium
before the introduction of the GFA
Challenge Trophy. We were the
underdogs going into the match against
the then, formidable Almondsbury
Greenway team, who had been semi-
finalists in the FA Vase that season and
were destined to reach Wembley again
the following year. After a display which still remains vivid in the memory today of those who
were there, we achieved a 2-1 win, and Dave was naturally both proud and delighted to
receive the Cup from the GFA Cups Secretary Mr Ern Stuckey.
After retiring from football, Dave, who was a firm Wolves supporter, became disillusioned
with the vast amount of money paid to Premiership and Championship players, and became
a season ticket holder and vocal supporter of Bath Rugby for many years.
Dave was aged 77 when he died, and leaves his wife Jan, with whom he celebrated his
Golden Wedding last year, and children Matthew, William and Anna, to whom all at Yate
Town FC send our very sincere condolences. His funeral was held at St. Lawrence Church,
Rode, last Wednesday, at which the Club was well represented. Dave will be sadly missed by
all who knew him.
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Yate Town Squad v Greenway Almondsbury – GFA Senior Amateur Cup Winners
Chris Smith, Jeff Lane, Pat O’Connell, Dave James (Capt), Paul Gardiner, Martin Durnell, Pete
Jackson, Keith Rogers, Steve Moore, John Lane, John Amos, Terry Northam and Maurice
Keenan.