RIP Malcolm Harry Roberts - Canveyshrimper

[nectar_points]

I usually just read threads on here and don't post, but this awful news has finally brought me out of hiding. I've known Harry since I was 16, when he was secretary of our Sunday league team, Castle Aristocrats, then later known as Hadleigh Sports. We spent so many hours over what, 35-ish years, often with Firestorm and CC1DAS, on the old north bank terrace and in a few local boozers and curry houses. No matter how bad the football was Harry would always make us laugh. Watching Southend became more of a social event thanks to the big man. As FS mentioned earlier, we lost touch for a few years as Harry went on his travels and I moved out of the area too. A couple of years back we met up again at a game and have spoken & emailed regularly since then. At the games I get to now, I always sit near Harry in case the game is rubbish as I know he'll make me laugh. I sent him a mail yesterday and thought it odd he hadn't replied, he was always so quick to reply with that intelligent and witty humour he possessed. Now I know why and that explains the tears in my eyes as I type a small tribute to a lovely man, a great friend and someone who will be so badly missed. It was his round too. Typical H.
Goodbye my friend, Roots Hall will seem even emptier without you.

 

[Shrimper2thecore]

Absolutely terrible news - RIP to a truely great Shrimper

 

[Greebosan]

Harry was famous on here for his "We're gonna get spanked" post in the pre match threads.

Anybody else think we should dedicate the pre match thread to H by renaming the prefix to the 'CanveyShrimper Pre Match Thread'

Just a thought.

I think this is a great idea - his trademark line never failed to make me chuckle.

I can only echo what others have already said - RIP.

 

[Benfleet A1]

Harry was by far and away one of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He was just such a genuine and sincere man that the cynical side of me thought he might be a secret axe murderer or perhaps skinned live kittens and ate them raw. Always, always had time for a chat and a beer, a sporting knowledge second to none, Southend to the core and a true gentleman, proper laying his coat across a puddle for a lady type. On a personal level, when I asked him about a job that was coming up at his firm, he bent over backwards trying to get my foot in the door.

I am truly shocked at the news and would like to send my heart felt condolences to Harry's friends and family.

RIP

 

[MK Shrimper]

Glasgow Shrimper has asked me to add his condolences at H's all too early passing.

Very sad news today about my Eggheads team-mate 'H' passing away suddenly this morning.

One of life's genuine good guys with an excellently succinct sense of humour.

RIP Harry

 

[southend4ever]

This is devestating news. I'd like to echo everyone's comments and without having had the pleasure of meeting Harry just say that he was clearly well respected, witty and loved Southend through and through. I can't add anything that hasn't already been said but the response just shows how well thought after Harry was.

RIP Harry.

 

[Angell Delight]

Shocking news, I didn't know him personally but his many posts on here were always very sensible and he seemed a genuinely nice fella.

RIP Harry. :sad:

 

[Pubey]

I never got the chance to meet him but seeing all the tributes it sounds like he was as nice a guy in 'real life' as he was on here. He was one of those rare posters where you saw he had posted in a thread and you immediately went there because you knew it would either be interesting and well thought out, or it'd be 'We're gonna get spanked:'('

 

[enfieldblue]

will miss his trademark, when that came up you knew everything was alright. RIP Harry

 

[* ORM *]

Shocked at this - RIP - another good one gone somewhere better

 

[Shrimperforlife]

Godspeed CanveyShrimper......

 

[McNasty]

Having had time to think and read all these tributes to a smashing bloke it puts everything into perspective.

All right , so we're not in the ****ing Championship, so what our Chairman is a ****, big deal we haven't signed anyone for a while, bugger me -- we haven't got a new stadium but , after the passing of Homer and Harry , we are still alive with a football team to support.

It could be bloody worse chaps.

 

[Dick Bate's Protege]

So very sad to hear this, he was in my experience a true gent and a pleasure to have known. Godspeed Harry.

 

[Prodigal Son]

The only time we've ever all agreed 100% on something - Harry was a very nice man.

 

[number11]

Devasted to hear this. Was a great poster and a fellow cricket geek who had such a great knowledge and insight yet prepared to listen to others. Just over last few days Was involved in a discussion with him and a couple of others on the state of Sufc at the moment but this puts it into perspective. Even if we found ourselves in the Essex senior league I'd rather have that and have people like him still around supporting the club. Wish I'd had the chance to know him better in real life. RIP

 

[ESG]

Totally stunned. Had the pleasure of sitting a couple of seats from Harry for the last 10 years. He was a true gent who loved his football,cricket and ale and was blessed with a wicked sense of humour. Matchdays will somehow never be the same.

RIP Harry

 

[Razam]

My condolences go out to his family. :(

 

[Thorpe Groyney]

It's at times like this that I get angry. It's so, so unfair, taking Harry away from everyone like this. A man of wit and intelligence, and that sense of the ridiculous that supporting a club like ours brings, he's the very essence of what Southend United is all about.

It feels like a little bit of Southend United has gone.

 

[dannypav]

Just thinking about Harrys next of kin etc and just wondered whether the club refund season ticket money in such circumstances - does anyone know ?
Not huge in the scheme of things but it might help towards something and would be a nice gesture from the club.
Having said that I can also hear Harry saying "Forget it mate , they need it more than me !"

 

[DoDTS]

Totally shocked don't know what to say!