Eastleigh are mourning the death of the club’s founder and ‘Mr Eastleigh FC’ Derik Brooks, aged 94.
Brooks was one of the founding members of what was then Swaythling Athletic and oversaw the move to the club’s current Ten Acres site in 1957.
He stayed involved with the club for an incredible 72 years and was made a Citizen of Honour by the Borough of Eastleigh in 2009.
Brooks formed Swaythling Athletic when his work team at Cunliffe-Owen Aircraft was disbanded and he went on to make seven first-team appearances.
He then became club secretary, a role he manned for 22 years, treasurer, for 13 years, and then spent 25 years as general secretary.
Eastleigh will hold a tribute to Brooks before Saturday’s game against Hartlepool United at The Silverlake Stadium.
RIP Derik Brooks #Eastleighfc #Legend I will always remember the day he was im my Office having a cup of tea, he said to me “Chris You are doing well for this Club” #proudmoment #SirDerikBrooks pic.twitter.com/mbUHYS08Ru
— Chris Todd (@ChrisToddBook) January 23, 2018
