Dale director ‘will be sorely missed’
WARM tributes have been paid to well-respected Rochdale AFC director Paul Hazlehurst following his death.
Mr Hazlehurst, a member of the board for 15 years, passed away following a battle with illness.
Chairman Chris Dunphy described his colleague and friend as being ‘at the centre of everything we have done as a club for a long period of time.’
He added: “I am hugely saddened by the passing of a close friend and fellow director.
“Paul will be a huge miss to Rochdale Football Club. He has been at the centre of everything we have done as a club for a long period of time.
“He was an integral part of overseeing the club transform into the family friendly club it is today, and he was very well respected throughout football. ●●Paul Hazlehurst (third from right) with fellow Rochdale AFC directors David Bottomley, Andrew Kilpatrick, Russ Green, Chris Dunphy, John Smallwood, Bill Goodwin and Andrew Kelly
“On a personal note, Paul and I go back a long way. We have always shared the same vision of where we wanted the club to be since the early days of being on the board, when we would travel up and down the country together on our own to watch the Dale.
“He will be sorely missed by all at Rochdale Football Club.”
In a statement Rochdale Supporters Trust said: “Everyone at the Trust was upset after it was announced on Friday that Dale director Paul Hazlehurst had passed away.
“As well as being a club director, Paul had also been a Trust member for many years.
“Many of us had known Paul from the days in which he used support the club from the Sandy Lane terrace through to his time in the boardroom.
“We have had many dealings with Paul over the years through his role at the club, and undoubtedly his passion for the club shone through at all times. He was a thoroughly decent man with a very dry sense of humour and he will be missed by us all.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this point.”
Speaking to the Observer following his appointment to the board Mr Hazlehurst, a chartered accountant, told how he had followed the Dale for 30 years and how he ‘still got a buzz’ entering the ground.
He said: “It’s an absolute dream to be in this position.
“The whole board have done great work over many years and the ground is a testament to them.
“The club is ready for some success and I think the first aim for everybody is promotion.
“Two years ago, with some sort of success on the field, we showed we can achieve up to 3,500 average gate.
“So we’ve got to give people something to come for, apart from to watch the grass grow.
“In previous years we had made that jump and the fans, and the town, expected us to be in the top six. It came as a bit of a surprise to all us last season when we dropped below that.”