Crawley Town Football Club

Len started work at the club's old Town Mead ground as a turnstile operator and soon became an integral part of the club's off-the-field operation in our non-league days.

When the club moved to the Broadfield Stadium Len continued to work for the club and as well as himself, his children and grandchildren became fans of the Reds.

 

 

It was with great sadness that I learned today of the death of another of the club’s “old guard”, Len Coleman. 

Unfortunately there have been too many of these tributes to write of late, but at least Len will be in fine company in our celestial Crawley Town club as he was a great friend to the likes of Stan Markham, Dave Haining, Les Turnbull and Fred Pitts. All of these men, and many other fans, staff and players came to appreciate Len’s help over his many years of volunteering, particularly in our Town Meadow days.

Len was one of those people - much like the recently departed Fred Pitts - who would turn his hand to any job he was asked to help with, as well as carrying out his role of kit manager.

I remember with great affection my many chats with Len while we were repairing or renovating some part of the fairly decrepit Town Meadow ground, and on matchdays Len was well known for his tour of the terraces, even in our Broadfield Stadium days, and would always stop and have a chat with our crowd, some of whom knew Len from his working life.

To say that Len was a ‘part of the furniture’ is not a slight in any way but a great compliment to another of the club’s greatest friends over many years.

In light of our  Sussex Senior Cup final in Brighton, I thought it appropriate to include one of my personal photos from our 1990 cup final victory at the Goldstone, which features Len proudly holding the trophy, alongside Stan Markham and myself.

It was a pleasure to know Len and my condolences to his family on behalf of everyone at the club.

RIP Len.