Death Of Doug Everitt

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 06/05/2003

THE Grimsby Telegraph today printed a tribute to Doug Everitt the former Grimsby Town chairman. Mr Everitt (73) passed away after a brave fight against cancer on Saturday.

The Telegraph said: In the early Eighties, when the Mariners flirted with promotion to the Football League's top flight with one of the finest crops of young players in recent times, he rose to become vice-chairman of the club.

Headhunted by supermarket tycoon Dudley Ramsden after his impressive track record in accountancy, Mr Everitt joined the board in 1981 until 1985.

His involvement with the professional game brought him into contact with the late media tycoon Robert Maxwell, who was desperately trying to get a seat on the influential Football League management committee.

Mr Everitt left the Mariners after a series of boardroom wrangles, only to return to the financial cauldron as chairman of the club 15 years later.

His December 1999 return saw a cosmopolitan spell for Grimsby Town Football Club under high profile manager Lennie Lawrence. Grimsby Town through and through, Mr Everitt always believed the club had a great future and gave his full backing to a new stadium.

Bryan Huxford, who was vice-chairman during Mr Everitt's tutelage, said he knew exactly what was required in charge of a football club. "I think he lived his life in a unique way and was successful both socially and professionally. He had great vision and knew what a business like a football club needed to succeed. He was a great driving force."

Mr Huxford described him as a true family man and a champion of champions. "I remember him in so many ways. He was great fun to be around. Doug was poorly for eight to 10 weeks but he was always jolly. He passed away with the quietness he conducted his life with.

"He never asked for gratitude or praise - he was just Doug Everitt. He was a champion of champions but nobody ever knew. He was a jolly good friend and will be sadly missed by many people. All members of the football club held him in such high regard and the club is saddened beyond belief."

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