Eric Dyson, who had an extraordinary association with Stalybridge Celtic spanning nine decades, has died at the age of 94.
In recognition of his lengthy service to the club, Eric was made an honorary life member, something he was immensely proud of.
Eric, who was taken to his first game by his father aged four in 1933, later served the club in various roles from undertaking secretarial duties, running the club shop, organising the young supporters group the Bower Badgers and being a doorman on matchdays.
There was also a spell when Eric, who spent his entire working life with the Ashton Reporter Group of Newspapers, switched from working in the general office to becoming a journalist.
During that time, Eric, who lived in Stalybridge all his life, reported on Celtic’s fortunes for the newspaper during the 1971/72 season as well as major stories connected with the infamous Moors Murders which took place in the newspaper’s patch.
After retiring, Eric returned to the Reporter as a part-time proof reader and worked for the newspaper for more than 60 years not finishing for good until he was almost 80 years of age.
Despite failing health, son David arranged special disability taxis to take his father to Celtic matches until the end of last season.
His other passion was the theatre as he acted and directed amateur productions from the late 1940s. He was honorary president of Dukinfield Amateur Operatic Society of which he had been a member since 1963.
Eric leaves son David and grandson Scott, both huge Celtic fans, daughter Ann and granddaughter Emily. Margaret, his wife of almost 69 years, died in October.
Eric’s funeral is at Dukinfield Crematorium on Monday, September 4 (3.30pm) following a wake at the football club which held one minute’s silence before Friday night’s Northern Premier League, West game against Bootle when the players wore black armbands in his memory.
Photo caption: Eric Dyson with the Cheshire League championship trophy which Stalybridge Celtic won in 1980.