A Hero departs

Courtesy of Dereck Lester

Stafford Rangers today mourn the sad loss of stalwart Dave Hiscox who passed away this morning after a brave fight with cancer.

The thoughts of everyone at his beloved football club are with his partner Claire and their family today as we all come to terms with the awful news of his passing.

For Stafford Rangers and all his friends and colleagues Dave was a hero, always at the club and volunteering to do anything he could to help prepare for a game or maintaining the ground.

He was quiet and unassuming, a modest man who hated recognition for the work that he did for us. when he was honoured with a Volunteer of the Year award, he had to be dragged in to accept it reluctant to accept the praise and recognition he so richly deserved.

Director & Vice Chair Carol Bailey has fond memories of the man who gave so much to the club. ‘He was always smiling, a breath of fresh air and nothing was too much trouble. He epitomised everything that’s good about non-league football and we were proud to know him.’

Dave turned his hand to everything at the club from driving the tractor and cutting the pitch, cleaning the ground, picking up litter and carrying out many jobs that others hated to do. He was always at the ground and would do anything we needed with a smile on his face, always on the go looking for the next challenge. An ex-army man many conversations started with a twinkle in his eye and the sentence ‘when I was in the trenches ‘which started his compatriots in crime Barry, Derek and Dennis to run for cover.

He had a loveable habit of never switching his hearing aid on and not knowing what people were saying to him which some would say was the best way to cope with the challenges of a football club.

This weekend we face one of the most exciting prospects of the season with our home fixture against FC United. We will be asking fans before the game to show their respect with a minute’s applause to recognise Dave Hiscox, a wonderful man, a gentleman and to thank him for his many years of loyal support for the club he loved.

We have no doubt that he will be looking down on the green, green grass he called home at the Rangers, surprised by all the love and support he will receive.

God Bless Dave and thank you.

Stafford Rangers Football Club