Dianne Jones has always been a team player, she has had to be from the moment she came into the world.
As the youngest of 9 children (7 girls and 2 boys) the family nearly had a football team themselves as they grew up in the Baswich area of Stafford with Dianne attending Leasowes Juniors before Walton High School together with her twin brother Dave. After school she went to work at Groundslow Hospital as a ward clerk before the move to Stafford General Infirmary where she trained to become a Phlebotomist nurse, staying for 38 years. The last 3 years have seen her working as a Clinical Nursing Assistant/Phlebotomist within the Surgical Pre- assessment Unit. Recently she has been re-deployed to Royal Stoke Hospital in support of Coronavirus efforts.
‘It’s a very anxious, apprehensive and emotional time for all patients and staff right now ‘states Dianne ‘but everyone is supporting each other so fantastically and I have never been prouder of working for the NHS’
All at Stafford Rangers Football Club applaud the efforts of all the NHS and other front line workers and Dianne we are so proud of you and your colleagues.
Dianne’s Dad Jack Mayer was chairman of Stafford Sunday League football and it was he who inspired her interest in the game. They used to watch Stoke City one week then her beloved Stafford Rangers the next along with Southend Club, who Jack managed on a Sunday. Her infatuation with the Boro developed and she became a regular fan at both home and away games, she was hooked. Dianne went to all 3 Wembley games and then started working voluntarily for the club in 1972. Originally selling match day programmes with her sisters Linda, Chris & Pauline, she went onto work for Alf Wood and Mick Cullerton in the Commercial Department and also helped in the mobile canteen. She had a short break from the club when she had her son Lewis (now 21) but soon went back and worked in the boardroom hospitality unit when Stuart Maun was in charge.
Dianne is still a vital part of the team today making fans, sponsors and officials feel totally at ease and welcome in the new Chairman’s suite as well as being part of our fantastic bar staff on function nights. A true fan with a passion for the club and someone who has always stood together in good times and bad. Dianne is currently missing her football and her all-time favourite players who were Ben Seddon, Frazer wood and of course Shoota. We hope that whenever the season starts again we can add a new name or two to that list. We are so proud that one of ours is making such a difference off the pitch and know you will join us in saying thank you and we look forward to seeing you at the club Dianne as soon as we can. Please Stay Safe !
