Glasshoughton Welfare joint manager Darren Holmes has paid tribute to long-serving secretary Frank Maclachlan whose sudden passing last week has rocked the club.
Glasshoughton honoured Mr Maclachlan prior to the Toolstation NCEL Division One visit of Hall Road Rangers last night six days on from the shocking news.
Holmes admits he and the club were stunned at Mr Maclachlan’s passing.
“It has been a very tough week for everybody,” Holmes told Non League Yorkshire.
“This time last week we were at training and everything was fine. We had a good training session and we were looking forward to playing Armthorpe.
“We then got the devastating news the following day that Frank had died. I was shocked. (Chairman) Jon (Miles) rang me to tell me the news and I was speechless. I didn’t know what to say. We’d seen him on the Saturday at Campion and everything was fine and we were chatting away and having a drink. It was a total shock to get that news last Wednesday.
“I’ve known Frank for over 30 years as a friend, as a player and as a manager. I first met him down at Ponte when he was either on the committee or the secretary.
“I was a player and he even got me driving the team coach one day. I don’t know what happened, but we were away somewhere and I don’t know if the driver was ill or what, but I ended up driving the coach home.
“I drove a Gritter for the council at the time so I had my HGV license and I was qualified to drive the coach. I think Frank was asking for volunteers by saying ‘who’s got a license to drive this’? I looked up and stuck my hand up. I was only a youngish lad in my 20s then, but I drove the coach home.
“Frank’s done everything in local football and he’s worked tirelessly for grassroots football at Ponte, Glasshoughton, Fryston and he’s going to be a big loss.”
Alongside his roles with Pontefract Collieries, Fryston and Glasshoughton, Mr Maclachlan was an active member of the Castleford FA and many from the local football scene attended the Hall Road game.
“We’ve been letting people know about the game because obviously the funeral is limited to small numbers,” Holmes said.
“We were hoping people came down to pay their respects and fill in the book of remembrance and it did look like people turned up in their numbers to honour Frank.”
Frank was a great person. I played at ponte for 7 years while he was in committee. Year Fryston when he was there. Kath’s lost a class bloke
Frank was at fryston when I played there a true gent who had time for anybody
We have lost a giant of a man in terms of Frank being one of the best, not only in the world of football but as a friend to so many, a big character with a bigger heart, the world is a lonelier place now.