It has been announced that former Witton Albion Football Club Chairman, Donald Kershaw Mayer has passed away at the age of 84. He held the position of Chairman during the club’s time at The Central Ground and was also a local Councillor. He moved to live in Colwyn Bay a few years ago.
Donald must have been Chairman before my time as a Wittoner does anyone know the era/year(s) that he was? Anyway very sad news RIP Donald.
Early 60s Ken Barnes days at the Central Ground
My earliest recollection of Witton is with the Ken Barnes team, I remember Norman Low being the manager.
Strange, I do not think I saw his name crop up in any literature I read whilst researching the book. He must have kept a very low profile.
WHS.
Ken was player manager for a period before Norman Lowe ( and I dont think Norman Lowe managed anything lol ) I dont remember Donald tbh kids were not interested in boardrooms, the first Chairman I remember was the legend Tom Stelfox.
RIP Donald
I remember Don Mayer, a good friend of the late David Leather, both lived on Witton Park & he was a very tall, proud man & a very good Wittoner. I don’t recall his time as Chairman but I think he followed Tom in that role. I would imagine Gordon Knop would be the man to fill in the blanks.
When I used to write the programmes I would call at David’s for the details of the opposition & the match officials & occasionally call at Don’s for his input from the boardroom.
Won’t it be in THE book?!?
On page 90 in the book “Sons of Albion” showing a team photo 1959/60, Don is the tall man standing in front of the stand in the left hand corner of the photo . Some stars in that team .
As Phil says Don is pictured in between Peter Proctor and George Johnson.
Yours truly left of Keith Higgins !
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As I said, in all my research I never came across any mention of Mr.Mayer, why I have no idea.
WHS.
Quite right WHS - He was a Wittoner and loyal servant who had local business connections just like many down the years !
I am really sorry I have not given him a write up in the book.
WHS.
I have checked and I do mention him in the list of great Wittoners as D. Mayers. He deserves more by the sounds of it though.
WHS.
Bit before my time however my dad said he was the proprietor of Kershaws wholesale fruit and veg which was on Witton Street just down from where Witton Street surgery is now.
My dad said he was better known as Don Kershaw
NOW I know who you mean!!
WHS.
The only chairmen at the central ground were, Sam Powell, Tom stelfox and Paul Broadhurst, according to Paul don Mayer was a director when he joined the board in the 60’s, apparently a nice guy who put a few bob in, nothing much changed then?
Thanks for that Jim. The announcement on the Guardian website had him as a former Chairman.
You mean the Guardian got a fact wrong!! For a while they had me working at ICI every time I was mentioned and I never worked there in my life.
WHS.
To be fair, obituary notices are usually submitted by the funeral directors and/or the family so the Guardian was probably just printing what it had been given.
True,
WHS.