Tributes have been paid to Needham Market resident and football club stalwart, Derrick Bloomfield, who has died aged 95
A football club stalwart, whose devotion to the club led to the ground being named after him, has died aged 95.
Derrick Bloomfield first played for Needham Market Football Club aged 16 - before supporting the club through a number of roles for more than 70 years.
Such was his commitment, he became known as ‘Mr Reliable’ and when the club moved to the current ground in Quinton Road in 1996, it was named ‘Bloomfields’ in his honour.
Mr Bloomfield lived in the town all his life before moving to Barking Hall Care Home, Needham, where he died on March 21.
Current club chairman, Keith Nunn, said: “Derrick devoted more than 70 years of his life to Needham Market FC.
”He first played for the club aged 16 when they were playing on Youngs Meadow in the town before they moved to Crowley Park.
”He had a great left foot and back in those days he played mostly at inside left.
”He was secretary and treasurer of the club for many years before handing the role of secretary over to the current secretary Mark Easlea and that of treasurer to Donny Vincent, another club stalwart.
”He was awarded the FA Gold Medal for 60 years service to the game and a Meritus award from Suffolk FA.
”When the club moved to the current ground in Quinton Road in 1996, the ground was named ‘Bloomfields’ in his honour; a fitting testament to his dedicated and tireless service to the club.
”For much of the time he effectively ran the club. He never complained, he was always there and he was known by many as Mr Reliable.
”He was very proud of the progress the club had made since he first started playing, rising up to be the top non-league side in the county and he would have been over the moon if we achieve promotion to the National League this season.”
Mr Bloomfield was born in, 1928 in Needham Market.
He first lived in Hawks Mill Street, then Crowley Road and then Quinton Road.
He worked for Swains the hardware shop in Needham High Street but left soon afterwards when he found that he had to work Saturday afternoons, when instead, he wanted to play football.
He later worked at Needham Chalks where he acquired his nickname of ‘Chalks’ and then at ICI in Stowmarket for 32 years before he retired.
His life, and that of his wife Pauline, who died a number of year ago, revolved around football and Needham Market FC
He is survived by his son Melvyn, who team mates says inherited his ‘great left foot’ and has also played for the club for many years.
There will be a one minute applause before the club’s next home game on Easter Monday, against rivals, AFC Sudbury.
