Sevenoaks Town Football Club paid tribute to Eddie Diplock on a Saturday afternoon in October after their Life President Eddie Diplock sadly passed away the week before, aged 93.
The club put in place their plans to applaud Eddie’s life and services to football ahead of their 0-0 match against Erith Town at Greatness Park.
Speaking the match day programme, club Chairman Paul Lansdale said: “This week has been a sad one with the passing of our Life President Eddie Diplock on Wednesday. We will be holding a minutes silence before the game as our tribute to a wonderful servant to this club for more than 60 years – he was and will always be – Mr Sevenoaks Town.
“More than that he was somebody who loved his involvement in the game – not just here – but in the town and the county.”
Sevenoaks Town’s Manager Marcel Nimani added: “On behalf of the first team, we offer our deepest condolences to family and friends of Eddie Diplock, a man with an eternal legacy. May his soul rest in peace.
Eddie Diplock (1931-2024)
Eddie served Sevenoaks Town as secretary for more than 60 years in a long association with local and county football as a player and administrator – and international football as a volunteer in the media department at Euro 96.
Eddie grew up playing football at St Johns Church of England School in the town, and St Johns United when he left at 14, first working for the Post Office as a telegram boy, before joining South Suburban Gas Company as an apprentice gas engineer – where he stayed for 47 years.
National Service saw him join the Royal Engineeers where he was based in England and Middle East, he continued to play where he was stationed. On demob he rejoined St Johns United who by now had amalgamated with Sevenoaks FC to become Sevenoaks Town.
He played for the first team for 15 years, and continued to turn out for the reserves and A team playing his last game at the age of 56 – justifiably proud of never being cautioned or sent off in a 30-plus year career.
He was then appointed club secretary in 1953 – before becoming involved with local football – Sevenoaks Charity Cup, Kent Amateur League, then the Sevenoaks League serving as vice chairman, and then as chairman.
In 2003, he received the prestigious Football Association Medal for 50 years service to the game in the town and county.
He was a long serving member of the Sevenoaks Sports Council, Life President of the Kent County League and received a Kent County Football Association Order of Merit following his retirement at the age of 75.
He was elected President of the Sevenoaks District League and Sevenoaks Charity Cup in 2007, describing it as a “proud honour allowing me to keep in contact with all the friends I made over the years.”
Eddie was also honoured in 2012 with an award from The Torch Trophy Trust, a charity who recognises and rewards volunteers in sport and recreation, presented to him by HRH The Duke of Kent.
As well as being club secretary Eddie continued to maintain the two grass pitches at the club, mowing and marking before stepping down in 2015 – honoured with a stand in his name, and being named as Life President.
He also received a letter from the then Football Association chairman Greg Dyke.
Remembering Eddie
Former Sevenoaks Chronicle editor Frank Baldwin, added his thoughts on Eddie, saying: “During my first stint on the Chronicle in the late 70s and early 80s, I was the sports editor and got to know Eddie very well as every week, without fail, he would personally deliver to the office – no fax or email in those days – a hand written report on Sevenoaks Town’s latest match, plus any other news the club had. His ‘cheeky chappie’ demeanour meant it was always a pleasure chatting with him. His enthusiasm and dedication to the club were obvious and he was a true stalwart.”
Edward Oatley MBE, the Chairman of the Sevenoaks District Sports Council said: “When I first joined the Sevenoaks Sports Council in the 1980’s, Eddie had been a member for over 10 years and yet here he was still playing for Sevenoaks Town and also well and truly running the club as Secretary. At our first meeting I soon learnt that running the club meant Eddie doing everything from mowing the pitch to washing all the kit. What a role model he became for the town showing that determination, dedication and hard work.”
- Eddie’s funeral took place at the Bluebell Crematorium in Halstead on Wednesday 20th November, 2024.
