Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset
Director⭐⭐🦐
We are so sad to report that our former player Chris Barnard (centre in first pic) passed away on Monday. after a shirt illness.
Chris came to our Former Players Club meeting back in May (indeed, he was at the last one in December) and his smile simply just lit up the room. He had been suffering from dementia for some time and was living in a care home, but back in May when we had a reunion of the1964 Southend United youth team, the pure joy on his face as, one by one, he was introduced to seven of his old teammates who he had last seen some 60 years ago, was just priceless. If ever we wonder why we do what we do at SUEPA, those moments just encapsulated every reason. For the rest of us looking on it was a moment to treasure.
Chris wasn't a star football name - he played youth football for us first in the early 1960's, signed on apprentice terms in 1965, and went on to make just 11 apps in our first team (three goals) before moving on to Ipswich Town in 1966. He played for the Tractor Boys 21 times, went on to make 32 apps for Torquay 1970-72, played one game for Charlton, and finished his playing days at Chelmsford City. But of course, though maybe not a household name he did what most of us as kids would dream of doing in playing for our club.
We got to know Chris a couple of years ago shortly after he had been admitted to the care home where the wonderful folk of Down Hall Residential Care Home looked after him royally. He loved his visit as our match day guest back in January 2023, and when our Former Player Club meetings started last year the good folk of Down Hall made every effort to get him along. We had to laugh too when in May he turned up wearing the same jumper he had the year before - he assured us it had been washed!
Though Chris's short term memory was poor, we know he treasured his visits to see us and, following up on an idea his care home suggested, we are sourcing a Southend United tracksuit top for him to be dressed in for his funeral.
Chris leaves no next of kin, but when his funeral details are known we will announce them here and hope that a few of his old teammates, and indeed any Shrimper, can come along to pay their respects.
RIP Chris, you will be missed. Forever a Shrimper
Chris came to our Former Players Club meeting back in May (indeed, he was at the last one in December) and his smile simply just lit up the room. He had been suffering from dementia for some time and was living in a care home, but back in May when we had a reunion of the1964 Southend United youth team, the pure joy on his face as, one by one, he was introduced to seven of his old teammates who he had last seen some 60 years ago, was just priceless. If ever we wonder why we do what we do at SUEPA, those moments just encapsulated every reason. For the rest of us looking on it was a moment to treasure.
Chris wasn't a star football name - he played youth football for us first in the early 1960's, signed on apprentice terms in 1965, and went on to make just 11 apps in our first team (three goals) before moving on to Ipswich Town in 1966. He played for the Tractor Boys 21 times, went on to make 32 apps for Torquay 1970-72, played one game for Charlton, and finished his playing days at Chelmsford City. But of course, though maybe not a household name he did what most of us as kids would dream of doing in playing for our club.
We got to know Chris a couple of years ago shortly after he had been admitted to the care home where the wonderful folk of Down Hall Residential Care Home looked after him royally. He loved his visit as our match day guest back in January 2023, and when our Former Player Club meetings started last year the good folk of Down Hall made every effort to get him along. We had to laugh too when in May he turned up wearing the same jumper he had the year before - he assured us it had been washed!
Though Chris's short term memory was poor, we know he treasured his visits to see us and, following up on an idea his care home suggested, we are sourcing a Southend United tracksuit top for him to be dressed in for his funeral.
Chris leaves no next of kin, but when his funeral details are known we will announce them here and hope that a few of his old teammates, and indeed any Shrimper, can come along to pay their respects.
RIP Chris, you will be missed. Forever a Shrimper
