A MUCH-VALUED volunteer and member of the Mossley community was honoured in the best way possible – with a win for his beloved football club.
Mossley AFC players stood around the Seel Park centre circle before their match with Ramsbottom United on January 2 – the first home game since the death of Paul Harrison.
The 66-year-old was part of the furniture at the stadium and part of the town for his role with St John’s Band and leading the Whit Friday band contest.
And knowing he would have loved seeing Jack Banister’s goal give the Lilywhites a 1-0 win that kept them in the Northern Premier League West Division play-off places, managed David Fish remembered him fondly.
He said: “Paul was a big part of the club but beyond that, he was a big part of the community.
“I’d come up to the band contest and that was all organised by Paul Harrison and his family.
“He was a huge part of the community. He was one of the first people I met when I took the job.
“I came to a working party here and he was typical – hands on, pulling up weeds and sorting everything out.
“He was that kind of person. He put in so many unseen hours to help make things tick.
“Paul’s a huge loss and it was an emotional day. It was the right result for that, and performance.”
Paul, once volunteer groundsman at Mossley AFC, had been band president at St John’s and was heavily involved in organising the town’s brass band contest.
In a statement, the devastated group said: “Like many other organisations we are devastated to announce the passing of long-standing volunteer Paul.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family.”
Mossley AFC added: “He made time for everyone and his infectious smile and personality touched those who met him.
“We will miss him beyond words.”