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Dunstable Hammer 7:43 Tue Jan 27
RIP Sid Clear
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Sid Clear – 19th March 1943 – 27th January 2015
RIP Dad
Please don’t find this too self indulgent, but there may be many West Ham fans that Knew my dad, so I thought this would be a way of letting them know.
What can I write about my dad that sums up my love for him. A brief outline of his life….
Dad was born in 1943 on the Isle of Dogs. He’s always been sports mad, and started following football from a very early age….thankfully given his location he plumped for West Ham rather than Millwall!!
Dad passed away from cancer….originally bowel (like our dear beloved Bobby Moore) but which spread throughout the body.
Dad has always been a true football man, originally playing school boy football in the East End of London, where for half a season he was top school boy scorer of something or other….he did tell me, but it didn’t really sink in what he’d said. He ended up buggering his knee which put an end to any ideas of going further with the game. He also played Rugby, and was apparently a very good hooker.
Mum and dad moved out of London, not long before I was born in 1969, to Dunstable.
He set up Totternhoe Cubs Football team when I was very young, and both me and my elder brother had the pleasure of playing in this very good team.
After that he took up refereeing and got to a very good standard, grade 1 and would do 2 to 3 matches at the weekend. South Midlands League on Saturdays and Leighton Buzzard Sunday’s, along with Chiltern Youth League. Despite his bad knees, he was still fit as a butcher’s dog. He got to be 4th official at a Luton Town game against Tottenham, when Tottenham had some of their greats such as Gazza.
When his knees/hips got too bad he had to give up the reffing, although he still maintained links with it through the society, and was an assessor and kit supplier.
He also got very much involved with the Leighton Buzzard Sunday Football League where he was Secretary from 1981 till present day.
Dad was a season ticket holder for donkey’s years in the West Stand, very near where the journalists sat. He only gave up his season ticket round about the point that West Ham tried to introduce the Bond Scheme (was very disillusioned by it)….although he didn’t renew, he was still a massive Hammers fan watching on TV at every possibility.
He was lucky enough to see the majority of West Ham’s great achievements, only missing the 1964 Cup Final as he had to accompany my mum to her best friend’s wedding….basically if he hadn’t of gone, I’d very probably have never been here!!
Dad….I’m going to miss you like crazy, and am just glad that I managed to tell you that before you went….some people don’t get that lucky!
Love forever dad Jon
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Replies - Newest Posts First ( Show In Chronological Order)
Hammerhermit
7:53 Wed Jan 28
Re: RIP Sid Clear
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Coffee 4:37 Wed Jan 28
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Joke Whole
7:48 Wed Jan 28
Re: RIP Sid Clear
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He'll never really die while you cherish those memories: he still lives in your heart, which is as good a testament a man can have.
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Chatham
5:58 Wed Jan 28
Re: RIP Sid Clear
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RIP Sid Clear and and my thoughts to your family Jon.
Lost my brother to cancer ( bowel spreading to stomach and abdomen ) so always spare a thought for people who have had a a similar experience.
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Coffee
4:37 Wed Jan 28
Re: RIP Sid Clear
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"Dad….I’m going to miss you like crazy, and am just glad that I managed to tell you that before you went"
Well said.
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HairyHammer
4:31 Wed Jan 28
Re: RIP Sid Clear
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R.I.P Sid Clear, condolences to you and your family Dunstable.
Your dad lived football mate obviously a brilliant Hammers fan, and indeed you are fortunate to tell your Father how you felt about him before he passed as you say not everyone gets that opportunity .
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Wham1966
10:40 Tue Jan 27
Re: RIP Sid Clear
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Nicely written. Sincere condolences for your great loss. RIP Sid.
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claret50
9:00 Tue Jan 27
Re: RIP Sid Clear
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My condolences to you and your family.
May your Dad R.I.P
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Bungo
9:00 Tue Jan 27
Re: RIP Sid Clear
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Sorry to hear about your loss pal.
Lost my Dad 17 years ago now (to cancer of course), but remember clearly how you must be feeling right now.
RIP to all lost Dads (and Mums).
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Trevor B
8:45 Tue Jan 27
Re: RIP Sid Clear
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sorry for your loss mate i lost my dad and countless other close family and friends in the past 10-15 years so know exctly how you are feeling mate. rip.
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claret on my shirt
8:42 Tue Jan 27
Re: RIP Sid Clear
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Nicely written and all th best to you and your family. He'd be proud of you.
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Buster
8:30 Tue Jan 27
Re: RIP Sid Clear
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Nice words mate, sorry for your loss.
Lost my old man when I was 6 so relish all that time you had with him.
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One Flew
8:27 Tue Jan 27
Re: RIP Sid Clear
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RIP Sid, you've done him proud Jon
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lab
8:22 Tue Jan 27
Re: RIP Sid Clear
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Very moving , hang on to the memories and give him a smile now and then . RIP Sid.
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stomper
8:21 Tue Jan 27
Re: RIP Sid Clear
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Sorry for your loss. Sounds like a life pretty well lived
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HairySpotter
8:21 Tue Jan 27
Re: RIP Sid Clear
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nice read. sounds a familiar story actually. RIP to your old man mate. My dad too had the millwall/west Ham choice so at least we know our dads had at least a slight bit of nous!
as for his knee stopping the footie career but not the hooker position.... my old man had a trial and john Lyall said he was gonna be the next best full back...but his knee gave way too...funny aint it, all those knee injuries to our dads! ;-)
main thing is, u wrote it with some humour so im guessing he is in a better place and both you and him are at peace.
IRONS
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Brucies_Star_Prize
8:20 Tue Jan 27
Re: RIP Sid Clear
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Sorry for your loss Dubstable.
RIP Sid.
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JohnnyL
8:19 Tue Jan 27
Re: RIP Sid Clear
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DH... My sincere condolences to you and your family. I lost my dad more than 10 years ago to cancer too. After years of not being very close, the last 10 years were good. I miss him still but he is with me and I am sure your dad will be there with you as he always has. He will live on with you and your family but be strong.
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The Joker
8:18 Tue Jan 27
Re: RIP Sid Clear
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Sincere condolences to you and your family DH.
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