Achievement Award – Pat Fricker Gillingham Town FC
President Brian Beer and League Chairman John Pool present Pat Fricker of Gillingham Town with the prestigious Achievement Award
After his playing career ended, he joined the committee at Gillingham Town undertaking originally the job as groundsman and playing an active role on the committee. with no ability to obtain funding as there was not security of tenure pat spent hours and days trying to keep the pitchplayable. His tireless work saw the club join the club join the western league premier division and pat moving on to become firstly vice chairman and then chairman.
Throughout this time the club were looking for a new home which finally came to fruition in 2017. Because at this time the volunteer element had reduced the decision was made to return to the dorset premier league.
The move to Woodwater (the new ground) was fraught with difficulties, under local authority control the club were informed that whilst they would facilitate the move to the new ground and dressing rooms there would not be funding for a clubhouse, grandstand and floodlights. somehow pat procured a temporary clubhouse and tea hut. This was done before the opening of the ground.
it took him a further 2 years to seek out further funding to install floodlight and a grandstand whilst then having the added problems of the new pitch installation and drainage not being to the required standard. covid and the suspended season worked to their advantage allowing work to be carried out to try and address the problems.
Sadly, the club now finds itself in a relegation position but whatever the future holds the club is in the best hands possible.
Pat you are a true inspiration to anyone involved in football at this level. we are sure you will come again.
President Brian Beer and League Chairman John Pool present Pat Fricker of Gillingham Town with the prestigious Achievement Award
After his playing career ended, he joined the committee at Gillingham Town undertaking originally the job as groundsman and playing an active role on the committee. with no ability to obtain funding as there was not security of tenure pat spent hours and days trying to keep the pitchplayable. His tireless work saw the club join the club join the western league premier division and pat moving on to become firstly vice chairman and then chairman.
Throughout this time the club were looking for a new home which finally came to fruition in 2017. Because at this time the volunteer element had reduced the decision was made to return to the dorset premier league.
The move to Woodwater (the new ground) was fraught with difficulties, under local authority control the club were informed that whilst they would facilitate the move to the new ground and dressing rooms there would not be funding for a clubhouse, grandstand and floodlights. somehow pat procured a temporary clubhouse and tea hut. This was done before the opening of the ground.
it took him a further 2 years to seek out further funding to install floodlight and a grandstand whilst then having the added problems of the new pitch installation and drainage not being to the required standard. covid and the suspended season worked to their advantage allowing work to be carried out to try and address the problems.
Sadly, the club now finds itself in a relegation position but whatever the future holds the club is in the best hands possible.
Pat you are a true inspiration to anyone involved in football at this level. we are sure you will come again.
