Local football pays tribute to Rovers stalwart

GOOD friend and fellow clubman George Henderson MBE has led the many tributes paid to Dunbreen Rovers chairman John Crawford, who passed away in the early hours of Monday morning.

In 2018 Mr Crawford was presented with a Merit Award in recognition of 50 years service to local football and in particular Dunbreen Rovers.

For all of that time Mr Henderson worked side by side with the deceased and said Mr Crawford, 74, was respected by friend and foe alike.

“I just can’t believe it,” said Mr Henderson, a founder member of the club who is currently the President of the Fermanagh and Western FA.

“John was a good personal friend who was a great servant to Dunbreen Rovers Football Club.

“He played, was team manager on a number of occasions and had been chairman for more than 10 years.

“John was down to earth, everybody liked him and he was a great organiser – one hundred per cent a great club-man.

“He represented the club with distinction and, while he respected everyone’s point of view, he wasn’t afraid to speak his mind if he felt that’s what was required.”

As a player Crawford played in the only Dunbreen Rovers team to capture the prestigious Mulhern Cup in 1968 when the Omagh side defeated Lisbellaw United 1-0 in a replay after extra-time.

The deceased, who worked in the Tyrone Constitution and Education Authority, was very much a one-club man during his life-long involvement in the local game. That, according to Fermanagh and Western League chairman Neil Jardine, was a unique achievement in itself.

“The members of the Fermanagh & Western Football League were saddened to learn of the death of John Crawford,” said Jardine.

“John was one of a select few who spent their whole football life at the same club, a fact recognised by the League who honoured John in 2018 with a Merit Award for 50 years of service.

“Above all, John was a gentleman and a true ambassador for the game and his club Dunbreen Rovers. Our sympathies go to his family and to all connected with Dunbreen Rovers FC.”

A glowing tribute on behalf of Dunbreen Rovers was posted on the club’s Facebook. It read, “Today marks a very sad day for Dunbreen Rovers Football Club, the local football community and more importantly the Crawford family.

“Most structures can point to a certain cornerstone for they’re enduring stability. For Dunbreen Rovers Football Club, that was John Crawford.

“In footballing terms John has been a lengthy custodian of Dunbreen Rovers. As a player John was part of the Mulhern Cup winning team, as a manager John presided over many teams and achieved numerous promotions winning several leagues during his various tenures. Indeed there exists very few past and present football players from the local community that that did not experience game time under his stewardship.

“In recent years, John has been chairman of the club and approached his role in a manner that nobody else possibly could. Innovative, forthright yet immeasurably approachable, John fulfilled the role as if the club was his own.

“For many John will always be the face of the club. Whilst his playing career was cut short by injury, this was perhaps to the benefit of every player that passed through the club since. Those said players experienced a charming, soft, thorough personality who always believed that within the club, the players were the beating heart and for that reason John’s passing will be widely felt.

“The local community has lost a great football man, Dunbreen Rovers have lost a pivotal character however the Crawford family have lost an exceptional man. We at Dunbreen Rovers will ensure that ‘JC’ s ‘ memory will continue in the main, not least by the fact that John junior currently plays but by continuing the same honest approach to all things football, community and family which John did so well!

“John Crawford, yours in sport, may you rest in peace and with your continued support.”

Mr Crawford’s funeral service will be held in Trinity Presbyterian Church today (Wednesday) followed by interment in Cappagh Graveyard.

He is survived by his wife Margaret, daughter Arleen (Norman), son Jonathan (Niki), grandchildren Ethan, Orrin, Reilly and Bailey, brother Ronnie and sister Hazel. He is predeceased by brother Eric.