Clarets mourn as Mr Chelmsford City dies

CHELMSFORD City will create a fitting memorial somewhere suitable at their Melbourne Stadium home for club president Don Walker who died on Thursday.

Affectionately known as 'Mr Chelmsford City', Don, aged 85, had given years of loyal service to the club and carried out varied duties at different times, from sponge man to manager.

Club chairman Mansell Wallace said this week that club directors would meet and decide on what form the memorial would take "for someone who was obviously Mr Chelmsford City."

He added: "He was a lovely man and had done so much for the club in the years gone by and will be sadly missed."

City manager Jeff King said: "It's a very sad day for all at the club and he will be missed and I send my deepest sympathies to Don's family."

Vice-chairman Paul Hopkins added: "He will always be remembered as Mr Chelmsford City because he loved the club and over the years did every job there was to be done and was a real, loyal servant."

Former chairman Peter Stroud said: "He was a gentleman, knowledgeable, proud and an exceptionally likeable man and what he gave to the club over the years was immeasurable."

Don first joined City from Wolverhampton Wanderers in March 1947 before later moving on to Hastings United in the summer of 1948.

He played in the Kent League in the 50s with Snowdown Colliery Welfare and Tonbridge Wells United, finally seeing out his playing days with Maldon Town and Hoffmans.

It was Billy Frith who as manager invited him back to City in October 1963 as coach to City Reserves, following a brief spell as manager at Athenian League club, Brentwood.

It was a return to the club he loved and a relationship that lasted right up until his death last week when he was still president.

Over the years of loyal service Don did practically every job there was to do at the club – from being trainer, coach, caretaker manager and, from September 1979 to May 1980 permanent manager.

His unstinting loyalty to the Clarets over the years was rewarded in 1993 when the club granted him a testimonial and Ipswich Town, then in the Premier Division, came to the old Stadium in New Writtle Street for the match.

A true gentleman and over the latter years in particular a fine ambassador for the club off the field, Don fully deserved the unofficial title of 'Mr Chelmsford City'.

Understandably tributes to Don have poured into the club over the past week both from City supporters but also others from outside the club.

The funeral is on Thursday, June 11 at Chelmsford Crematorium at 2pm.