Paul Sykes - a tribute

[Guest]

As you grow up following football at any level you begin to realise who your footballing heroes are. Over time these heroes grow in number. They don’t necessarily have to be the best player, the biggest player, the loudest player or the strongest player. They don’t have to be the player who appeals to everyone else. They just have to mean something to you.

 

In supporting Dover I had many such heroes. Injury put paid to the first. Left back Jason Bartlett. I only really liked him because he was the first name I heard and understood at a Dover game. Such acclimation that eventually earned him the prize of being the inspiration for the naming of my 2nd hamster. David Leworthy, another favourite, and others such as Matt Carruthers, Darren Williams, Paul Hyde and Simon Wormull eventually took their place in the archives of greatness.

 

But one player, one special player, in this archive is Paul Sykes. ‘Syko’ was not just a favourite of mine he was a favourite of so many people in South East Kent. He embodied all the characteristics of greatness, mentioned in the first paragraph but he was more important than that. He touched the hearts of so many. He worked tirelessly so often. He wore his heart, and the heart of every club he played for, on his sleeve and embraced the badge when he scored. He was a real footballer. He lived the dream.

 

On Tuesday 12th April 2005 Paul was taken from us. He died doing the thing he loved; playing football for one of the teams he loved. For somebody who lived and died for his football there is a sense of pathetic irony in that. But to die at 28 does not give justice to a life, which filled so many other lives with immeasurable joy. Neither does the suddenness of his death fully state what he meant to so many people in the non-league, and greater, footballing community.

 

Never before, in my years of watching football, have I seen such an outpouring of grief at the death for a player who was by no means an international superstar. He was however a Kent football star. For Kent football has lost one of it’s greatest, brightest stars and Kent football mourns. And it is tribute to the man that in only 28 years on earth he touched more hearts than several people have managed in 100. The news of his death has been greeted with such a sensational level of grief that I doubt even Paul would have possibly have believed what an impact he could have had on people’s lives

 

The fans of Gillingham, Welling, Margate, Dover, Dartford and Folkestone, as well as many people from the wider footballing family, who only know of the legend of Paul Sykes through others, have all expressed a level of love for the man. For he was a man who gave everything he could for their clubs. If nothing else it is enough to show that in an age of big business ruling the game we love there is still room for well placed sentiment.

 

I only got to see a season of Sykes in a Dover shirt. But from what I can gather the 100% effort he gave to the club was a standard performance level for all his clubs. And on Thursday 14th April my shirt, from that season, will be placed at Cheriton Road as a memorial to the man.

 

But being a Dover lad he always would mean something to the Crabble faithful. His ‘golden years’ remain, however, with Margate where he helped them claim their place in the Conference. But he also touched the hearts of Gillingham, Welling, Dartford and, for his final season, Folkestone. He has become immortalised as a symbol at all these clubs.

 

And on May 2nd Paul Sykes is remembered. Dover, his hometown club, take on Margate, the club which immortalised him, in the Kent Senior Cup final at Cheriton Road, Folkestone, the ground where he played the final games of his life. What is for sure is that he loved each club and, given the response to his death, they clearly loved him too.

 

Whether a fan of Margate, a fan of Dover, a fan of Folkestone, a fan of any of the other clubs he blessed, or a fan of the legend himself, or just someone who believes football is more than just about big business and still has some soul left, then get along to Folkestone on the May Bank Holiday and pay your respects. With all the proceeds going to Paul’s family it acts as a fitting tribute to a man who meant so much, to so many.

 

Paul Sykes, we salute you.

[BlueGate Alan]

Great tribute Tommy, I had tears running down my face just reading it & thinking about Paul and what a tremendous person he was!

 

All fans must make an effort to be at the Final so we can all show how much we loved & admired him & pay tribute & help his family at the same time.

[Guest]

Could we have this article in the cup final programme? Given that this final will be unlike any other in the competition's history, I think it would be fitting to have tributes and memories from fans.

[ooh!!bodyform]

i agree

[Guest]

well done tommy moved me to tears great tribute to a great man.

[blueblood]

Ditto and Amen.

[Gate4TehWin]

A Great tribute

[Gringo]

Well said Tommy <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/angel.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

A great tribute to one of the best players i have ever seen in a blues football shirt. A fantastic letter that sums up every persons thoughts at this moment.

Im sure everyone's had or having there own way of paying tribute to him and yesterday i had my own.

In a midweek game at the danes in dover at 3pm the ground fell silent. Two matches, 48 players, 2 referees remembered him and i was proud to wear a black arm band to pay my respects.

I was at folkestone tuesday night and i will never forget. He was an inspiration to us all and will truely be remembered and missed.

Rest in peace Paul.

[Margate Martian]

here here tommy! nicely put.

 

come on the gate!