Tributes paid to sporting legend

8:20am Monday 17th September 2007

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YATE and Chipping Sodbury's sporting family is to come out in force to bid a final farewell to legendary town sportsman David Pearce.

Mr Pearce, known as Pearcy to his friends, was well known in Yate for his lifelong service to the area's sports clubs and associations.

He played football for Yate Town (formally Yate YMCA) for most of his playing career and became the club's first ever manager in 1971.

He later established Yate's Beaufort Football Club, where he became president, and also thrived as an opening bowler for Chipping Sodbury's successful cricket team.

But last Tuesday Mr Pearce, aged 63, died suddenly of a heart attack while working on a garden in Chipping Sodbury for his business Dave Pearce Landscaping.

His daughter Gaynor Goodfield told the Gazette his sporting achievements and loving character should never be forgotten.

She said: "If you kicked a football or bowled a cricket ball you would know my dad.

"My father lived for sport, he grew up in the town and since joining Yate Town football club early in his life, never wanted to leave.

"Through sport he made so many friends and made some massive contributions. Yate and football was the be all and end all of his life.

"We are all just so sad he has gone. It is a complete shock to us and we are so sad we could never say our final goodbyes to him."

Mrs Goodfield said his recent plan to take his wife, Lynne, on a city break to Madrid to discreetly watch the football summed him up.

Mr Pearce went to Chipping Sodbury Secondary Modern School before taking an apprenticeship at Rolls Royce as an engineer.

He then took up gardening and juggled the commitments of his own business with football.

Yate Town Football Club secretary Terry Tansley said: "He did so much for sport in the area. He will be sadly missed by everyone here."

The club held a minute's silence before their home game on Saturday in memory of Mr Pearce.

Mr Pearce's family are welcoming anyone who knew him to come to his funeral at St Mary's Church, Yate, on Friday at 10.30am.