Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
DAVE ELLIOTT OBITUARY: KENT FOOTBALL LOSES ONE OF ITS MOST LOYAL SERVANTS
Player, coach, physio, league official and renowned statistician. Dave Elliott was all of these things and more during a life spent in football but whatever he did, the one thing that always shone through was his love of the game. Dave was a gentleman in the truest sense of the word and his sudden death, aged 75, has robbed Kent football of one of its most loyal servants. Before his untimely death on June 5, Dave had been told he was going to be presented with a long and meritorious service award by the Kent County Football Association. That ceremony went ahead during the association’s annual meeting at Upchurch River Valley Golf Club on Saturday with his sons Jon and Stuart in attendance and Stuart said knowing that their father was held in such regard had provided them with comfort at a difficult time. Stuart, who lives in Bracknell, Berkshire, said: “Jon and I were so proud to accept Dad’s award, he would have been thrilled with the kind words and the ovation.” The Kent County FA citation said that Dave had ‘lived and breathed for his football and in particular, Kent football.’ It went on: “David gave over 50 years to football in Kent and will be best known throughout as the unofficial historian of Kent football. “David’s knowledge of football in Kent was second to none, his meticulous research and his collection of Kent memorabilia was legendary and a visit to David’s home was always a delight for any Kent football enthusiast. “There have been many tributes paid to David and the notable theme running through all the tributes is – he was a true gentleman.” Born in Aylesham in 1942, Dave attended St Dunstan’s and Holy Cross schools. He played football in goal at primary school but when he moved to secondary school, his teacher told him he already had a goalkeeper so he became a centre forward. His first club was Castle United although it was with Chartham Sports that he enjoyed his most prolific spell which included scoring in a 4-0 Kent Junior Cup final win over Herne United. Dave also represented Sittingbourne, Ramsgate and Canterbury City and during the 1970s spent two years in Scotland playing in the Highland League for Aberfoyle Rob Roy. On his return to Kent, he linked up with Canterbury City as a player, coach and reserve team manager gaining three promotions in as many years. He next joined Whitstable Town for three seasons as reserve team manager and club coach before moving to Herne Bay FC as assistant manager to Trevor Gowan. Under the duo, Bay won the Kent League in 1992 before finishing runners-up the season after. Dave continued to coach/manage teams at Snowdown Colliery Welfare and then Woodnesborough followed by spells at Ramsgate and Whitstable Town. He had a second longer spell at Woodnesborough during which the club won various trophies and in 2004 he joined the Canterbury and District League management committee as registration secretary, later taking on l used to watch Dave play for the great Chartham Sports club side. He was a lovely player and could read the game so well. So many young players at Ramsgate, Whitstable and Herne Bay have Dave to thank for his coaching skills and the understanding the position as vice-chairman. Dave had an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the game, particularly in Kent and his published history of the Canterbury & District League, Faversham Charity and Whitstable Charity Cup competitions was described as a must-read for all football followers. Outside of football, Dave worked with the Salvation Army’s Young Peoples Band, teaching young people to play instruments. He is survived by his two sons and grandchildren Lydia, Bethany, Petra and Joel. The funeral takes place on Tuesday, June 27 at the Salvation Army Centre, White Horse Lane, Canterbury (2pm) with a wake at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence to follow. Donations to the Salvation Army. he shared of our wonderful game. He was a great manager and coach at Woodnesborough for many years while his outstanding work & commitment to the C&DFL will last forever. His archives of Kent football is wonderful and a trip around to Dave’s would take out the rest of your day. It was an Aladdin’s cave of pre-war and modern football programmes and books – all about Kent football. He will be sadly missed by all his many friends at Chartham Sports Club and Kent football in general and above all by myself.