Syko - "A year on" - and a request for your memories

[Greenie967]

JUST WHEN I THOUGHT I MIGHT ACTUALLY GET THROUGH TODAY WITHOUT BURSTING INTO TEARS, I GO AND READ PHIL THE INVICORITE'S (FORGIVE THE SPELLING) POSTING ON THE FOLKESTONE FORUM.

 

I'M ACTUALLY BUSY SITTING HERE COMILING PIECES FOR THE SYKO CHALLENGE PROGRAMME AND WAS THINKING ABOUT THE BEST WAY TO GET PEOPLES "MEMORIES" OF THAT TRAGIC NIGHT...

 

AS I SAID AS PHIL REDUCED ME TO TEARS (GOD WHATS APRIL 30TH GOING TO BE LIKE???) IT MADE ME THINK THAT WHILST OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO PRAISE PAULS LIFE I'D ALSO LIKE TO GAGE OPINIONS AND THOUGHTS OF PEOPLE UNDER THE BANNER OF "WE REMEMBER THE NIGHT OF APRIL 12TH" OR IF YOU'D JUST LIKE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS PLEASE DO SO EITHER BY E MAIL TO

 

info@sykochallenge.margate-fc.com

UNDER THE HEADING OF "WE WERE THERE"

 

OR BY ATTACHING YOUR OWN THREAD TO THE BELOW AND THEN WITH THE WEBMASTERS PERMISSION, WE'LL CUT AND PASTE YOUR REPSONSES INTO AN ARTICLE FOR THE OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAMME WHICH WILL BE ON SALE AT £2:00 EACH ON THE DAY...

 

FOR THE VERY UP TO THE MINUTE NEWS ON THE SYKO CHALLENGE LOG ON TO THE WEBSITE AND PLEASE REMEMBER TO COME ON APRIL 30TH, AND BRING YOUR WALLETS FOR AS A CERTAIN IRISH LORD SAID ONCE "WE WANT YOUR MONEY!"

 

THANKS TO EVERYONE AND ROLL ON APRIL 30

 

GREENIE

[Boney Crisp]

I cant actually say anything as i was not at the game but i want just say well done to you and Wellsie for all the hard work you have put in so far and keep it up. Well done. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/applaus.gif" alt="" />

[Greenie967]

BUT ALEX, THATS JUST WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR - IF YOU WERE AT THE GAME, YOUR EMOTIONS; FEELING AT SEEING EVERYTHING UNFOLD INFRONT OF YOU, BUT IF YOU WERENT THERE (I WAS AT WINCHES FIELD WATCHING HERNE BAY PLAY RAMSGATE) YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU HEARD ABOUT IT AND IMMEDIATE FEELINGS....

[Boney Crisp]

Well when i first found out the morning after i was shocked and sadened to hear that he died. At first it did not register but as the day drew on and when i got back home from school and looked on the internet seeing what everyone was saying and reading what actually happened i was virtually in tears.

[Drummer]

I was at the game and I can clearly remember Paul Sykes falling down for what seemed no real reason. He lay there for a short while and then attempted to get up, rose half way and then fell again. I am sure that I can remember Margate's Bill Edwards trying to revive him and I think goalkeeper Peter Trego may have also been doing so.

 

The ground was in silence whilst attempts were being made to revive Paul.

 

At the end of the game I remember Manager Chris Kinnear walking off the pitch with Peter Trego who looked to be in something like a state of shock.

 

A really sad occasion.

 

 

[Gate Watcher]

I could not make the game myself but I did manage to get on the forum for updates on what I thought was going to be like any normal cup semi final. I was shocked when I read on the forum that Syko had collapsed. It was not completely clear what had happened although we knew he had been taken to the William Harvey hospital. I was convinced that he would pull through and still be with us as after all he was a man of great courage. But I could not believe it when within half hour or so the news came through that Paul had sadly passed away despite everyone's best efforts. I remember being totally shocked and numb for a short while. Then when it started to sink in after reading and re-reading it I was in tears.

 

Then I remembered the great memories. Running out onto the pitch and clapping the supporters as he did every game as soon as he came out onto the pitch. The fantastic partnership he had with Bugsy, and their goal celebrations. And the Syko who stuck up for his teammate when he was getting a hard time. That very teammate who went on to become a Hartsdown legend - Phil Collins.

 

There is no doubt that Paul Sykes will always be remembered as a great footballer that wore his heart on his sleeve. He was also a true gentleman.

[Dutch_Mike]

I still remember that day as clearly as if it was yesterday. It was just any other day. I went to school and hopes were high that we would achieve a win. Myself, my dad, Dennis (Legend) and Dave (GT4W) travelled down to Folkestone in anticipation of a good game.

 

The game was delayed (due to the referee being late, I believe) but that did not deter our spirits. The game started and we went 1-0 up before the tragic occurence. I remember seeing him down and, as it was Syko, presumed he was messing around.

 

I seem to remember going through a number of stages. Firstly, I thought he must have sprained his ankle, and would be up soon. Next, I feared he had perhaps broken his leg, and would be down for a little longer. The longer he stayed down, the more fear that grew inside me. I feared that, perhaps, he had broken his neck. Never did it even occur to me that what had happened was fatal. The ground was silent as he was escorted from the ground. It is a cliche, but you could hear a pin drop. Then the ground broke into a round of applause for the great man.

 

The journey home was, needless to say, very quiet. But we were convinced that he would pull through. By the time I arrived home, it was on the forum (the Folkestone one, I think) that he had sadly passed away. Again, those stages, although very different ones this time. Denial, shock, fear and, most prominent of all, utter sadness.

 

The world had lost a great footballer and a great man. My heart still goes out to his family. He provided us with so many good memories - football needs more characters like him. A truly, truly great man. A year on, the pain is still there. RIP Syko - you are sorely missed.

[JohnKirby]

I wasn't at the game last year, Like many I was following from the forum here. As I remember Margate were losing or at the least weren't playing very well (EDIT: reading above post made me remember bout it being delayed) so I went off to make myself a cup of tea and potter around the house for a while, because I decided that me reading the forum was obviously bringing the team bad luck.

 

When I returned to the forum I started reading about how the game was called off, but for no specified reason, then sticking to the forum, and refreshing the page every so often finding out a player had collapsed on the pitch. I couldn't believe it when I found out what had happened that night to Paul. Paul was one of those players who, even though he was no longer part of the MFC set up, you always kept an eye out to see how he was doing. The next few days, my first thing I did when I got in was read all the tributes which flooded in because I wanted to know more about the player then what just what I knew about him. When it was announced about the Dover Margate game at Folkestone I had made my mind up instantly that I would be there no matter what to pay my respects.

 

In a strange way as well, it bought together many MFC fans as well. I remember there being a bit of a rift at the time, but to all sing together at the game and then winning put a nice turn on the day. Paul would have been proud of the game that was played in his memory, as he will be come the 30th.

 

His death also affected others who never even knew of him. I remember my girlfriend wanting to come to the game as well, after me re-telling some of the stories i had read on here, and then my whole house purchased a yellow band again after a few told stories. He certainly was a character.

 

Has anyone thought of collating some memories maybe for a short book or website.

[Greenie967]

John,

 

That idea is currently being worked on as I'm waiting for a call from the Folkestone Supporters Club chairman... and is one of the things that I need to speak to him about.