Thanet Wanderers has paid tribute to a ‘giant’ of the club who loved to champion the players and unfailingly would chart their progress with weekly match reports.
Former Club President Colin Whiteley, from Broadstairs, sadly passed away in late January.
He has been remembered as a kind and supportive man who was loved by all.
A tribute from Thanet Wanderers says: “It’s with profound sadness that we must share the news that Colin Whitely has passed away.
“The single greatest example of how valued, respected, revered, and loved he was has to be the reception of this tragic news on various group chats.
“Every person that would fit in Thanet Wanderers folklore as at least one of the above superlatives, said he was a Clubman, loved by all and complimented for each of the many roles he held with the club. Placing him on a pedestal that quite rightly sits high above us all, seems so deserving that it hardly registers.
“He had this wonderful ability to see positives in everything. Even when we weren’t playing well, he’d be there to point out something that was working, somebody that was playing their heart out.
“He was equally engaging with players of all ages, taking the time to talk to and introduce himself to everybody. He loved to champion those players deserving of a chance whilst supporting us veterans still turning out.
“A kind sentence in a report would make you walk proud and tall, whilst a missing name would induce bribes that his morals refused.
“The Thanet Wanderers family has lost a giant.”
One member noted Colin’s “kind words, his moral and emotional support, and his ability to turn a simple hello into a homecoming,” while another said: “A true gentleman that will be missed by all.”
Colin had been provided match reports for The Isle of Thanet News for several years and will be remembered as a gentleman and a devoted supporter of the club.
A minute’s silence was held at the club on Sunday (February 1) as “a small moment of quiet, filled with love, respect, and gratitude for a life that meant so much to so many.”
RIP Colin.