David, a 'Lifelong Pilgrim' recipient and 'Southender' on this forum, sadly passed away on 1st March aged 68. He had been a Boston United supporter for over 55 years. He was from Spalding, but before retiring and moving back to live in his hometown, he worked and lived in Southend for many years - hence his forum name.
Since I moved myself to Greater Manchester from Boston way back in 1979, David & I regularly met up on Saturdays - both at home and away games - and at York Street we stood with several fellow regulars on the halfway line on the back steps of the Spayne Road terrace. At the JCS we've been in the Main Stand.
On the day of our promotion to the Football League back in 2002, I flew from Manchester Airport to Heathrow Airport to attend the Hayes game, and David made a short detour on his way over from Southend to pick me up. And we were sat together at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham on the day we were relegated back to Non-League football.
I mention the Football League era because, on the day David passed, United won 3-1 at Dagenham & Redbridge. Given our history with them from that promotion season, there couldn't really have been any more appropriate opposition that day!!
