Trafalgar Road was happier when ‘Klaus’ was there
DAVID Sumner passed away a couple of weeks ago and his funeral was held at Christ Church last Friday.
On that occasion a very fine and full tribute was paid to David’s talents and gifts by the Reverend Rob Milton, but most members of Southport and Birkdale CC knew one of the club’s most steadfast supporters only through his connection with cricket and it is mainly that bond which will be examined here.
To begin with, he was not always addressed by his Christian name. Just as frequently he was called “Klaus”, a goodhumoured reference to his time spent in Germany, where he had qualified as a teacher and a football coach.
But whatever name was used, people were invariably glad to see David and the reasons for that were not hard to discern.
Perched near the window of the Southport Lounge or sitting on one of the benches on the patio, David radiated enthusiasm and good fellowship in equal measure.
He was easily satisfied. S&B victories, especially for the junior teams, caused him unlimited delight while defeats threw him into momentary gloom. He liked few things more than to see young sportsmen enjoying themselves and one imagines it was the same at Fleetwood Hesketh FC during the winter.
David bought programmes when he could and sold them if asked.
The brass plaque on “his” bench on the boundary summed him up with perfect concision: One True Supporter of Junior and Senior Cricket from One True Sandgrounder – David Sumner (Klaus).
There was more to it than those 15 words, though.
David had the great gift of simplicity and was entirely without malice.
Rather, he seemed possessed of a profound goodness, something which was all the more remarkable given that earlier periods in his life had been, to say the least, troubled.
None of that was David’s fault, though, and he had the air of a man who had made his peace with the world.
Trafalgar Road was a happier place when David was there and cricket was a better game for his involvement in it.
In just over a couple of months S&B’s juniors will be starting their programme of matches but one supporter, arguably their very best, will be absent. No one is kidding themselves that playing cricket will be quite the same for a while. We will miss the kind man who took pleasure in the pleasure of others.