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Nick Hone - RIP


Dave Deacon

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It is with deep regret that on behalf of AFC St Austell, as a subscriber of Cornish Soccer and an active member of this football forum that I have to announce the death of Nick Hone.

Nick was an avid supporter of the Lillywhites, so much so that although living in the Midlands, he was President of the club and took the opportunity to watch them whenever he could.

Nick took great pleasure in talking about St Austell and I could  listen for ages when he recalled the club's past and to see in his face the enjoyment he received from the club's recent success made one realised why we all love the game.

Condolences go to his close family and friends.

RIP Nick

Thanks to Mike Odgers for the photo of Nick holding the SWPL CupIMG_2836.JPG 

 

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I am absolutely stunned to hear this news-

Nick has been a personal friend of mine for only 4 years after meeting by chance at Helston and we regularly chat by Email and he has even visited me here in Camborne when down from the Midlands on St.Austell duty.

Such an enthusiastic football man for his beloved Wolves and St.Austell where he had great plans in producing a club history and programme collection.-we swapped and shared our club(Falmouth) records.

I can not quite come to terms with this tragedy and all I can offer are my condolences to his supporting wife Gill and family which he was over the moon with the addition of a recent grandchild.

RIP Nick- A very good and kind man who always gave me star reception at Poltair Park.

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I just clicked on the forum and saw the awful news my friend Nick Hone had passed away we have been messaging each other for severel weeks talking about St Austells new signings and hes been asking my opinion about the players St Austell have signed .I have only known Nick the last couple of years and he said he was fine we both discussed our illnesses and how we our both getting on im quite shocked by this awful news he was a lovely man we was only talking about St AUSTELLS new signing Rob Wearne at the beginning of the week and he asked me what i thought of him i said hes a good old fashion centre forward .I would like to pass my condolences to all his family St Austell will miss a great man R .I P Nick

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Heard this awful news this afternoon and it really knocked the wind out of my sails.

I too regularly exchanged emails with Nick and passed on as much St Austell information as I could find and answer any question he sent my way in his quest to find out every St Austell goalscorer akin to the way Mike does for Falmouth.

I never met him personally although our paths were due to cross only a few months ago but last minute plans meant we didn't get to catch up.

He recalled memories of certain moments of St Austell's history and really enjoyed their moment when St Austell won the league - only the second time in his 54 years of watching his beloved Lillywhites.

In a world of banter and crazy times, Nick was always the voice of reason and would always give a balanced account of any game he'd been to. Even if St Austell lost, he would praise the victors and give credit where it was due.

He will certainly be missed, not only on this forum but in the Cornish football world where one of the nice guys will be able to watch over Poltair Park from on high. RIP Nick and condolences to Gill and the family.

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Lovely bloke, great to chat to and will be sorely missed by anyone who knew him. I see St.Austell are playing Blazey in a week or two, think it would be nice to play for the Nick Hone trophy? Not that Nick would ever be forgotten but think it would be nice for someone who loved his club so much to be remembered in this way as my cherished friends Dave Gardner is down west and Brian Biggin at Newquay. The Saints could pick a pre season friendly every year to play for Nicks trophy? Just a thought for a lovely gentleman. RIP Nick, you'll be in good company up there with some other football people that have also gone too soon

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just looked at my e mails had severel from Nick in the last 3 weeks and he never mentioned he was ill again im very upset at this news i only met him once when Tanya introduced me to him at Liskeard when the G played St Austell in the final and won 3-0 and Nick patted me on the back and said the G played welleven though they still lost 3-0 and where outclassed in that match  i have got to know him over the years with the E mails we exchanged he will be sorely missed on the football circuit .It would be nice if something was done to remember Nick like a stand at St Austell dedicated to him similair to what the G done for Mr and Mrs Lowry sorry cant cant remember there names think im getting Dementia

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4 hours ago, RAPPO said:

Lovely bloke, great to chat to and will be sorely missed by anyone who knew him. I see St.Austell are playing Blazey in a week or two, think it would be nice to play for the Nick Hone trophy? Not that Nick would ever be forgotten but think it would be nice for someone who loved his club so much to be remembered in this way as my cherished friends Dave Gardner is down west and Brian Biggin at Newquay. The Saints could pick a pre season friendly every year to play for Nicks trophy? Just a thought for a lovely gentleman. RIP Nick, you'll be in good company up there with some other football people that have also gone too soon

Nice idea Rappo you old porno. We use to play Blazey pre season for the Phil Smith memorial trophy but Blazey pulled out of this so would most probably be a non starter 

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Hi Nanks, yeah remember that trophy for Phil mate. Maybe change it a bit each season against a local team, St.Dennis, Sticker, etc. Plenty of sides would love a pre season game against you guys at Poltair would have thought? Anyone really, just nice to remember Nick bud. ??

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Good points by Rappo. Would be nice to see Nick's contribution to local football being remembered as per Dave Gardner for example. Hopefully it could combine meaningful pre season games and fund raising for whichever appropriate good cause. 

RIP Nick. Your contribution to Cornish football and this forum will be greatly missed. 

 

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5 hours ago, Mike Odgers said:

Nanks,just an afterthought-Nick always mentioned his good friend at Sticker, Chris Osborne who I think may be the clubs secretary.On his visits he often saw Chris his friend from schooldays.

Hope I got my facts right

Mike you are correct. Chris told me that him and Nick were friend from school and that they would catch up when he came down. He was also friendly with former referee Graham Allen who is/has been involved with Mevagissey.

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Hi there. My sister has just shown me this, I'm not sure how she found it but she knew how upset I would be. Nick Hone was the best teacher I ever had. I left school almost 20 years ago, but he always comes up when we talk about our school days. He was absolutely hilarious, he used to come and chat to me about football every morning and make fun of my team whenever he got chance. He made a subject I hated into my favourite lesson and I really regret not contacting him as an adult to thank him for the lasting impression he made on me. My deepest condolences to his family, I think he had sons who were close to my age. He was a real inspiration to his students.

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So very sorry to hear that Mr,Hone has passed away.He was such a lovely man,I had the pleasure to know him for 5 years as he was my Geography Teacher.Always always had a smile on his face.I'd like to pass on my condolences to his family and friends.If anyone knows about funeral details could they possibly let me know,there are quite a few of us from school who would want to go and pay our respects. God Bless Mr.Hone RIP xxxxxxxxx

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Hello, this is Matt Hone. I'm Nick's second son.

I'd like to thank you all on behalf of our family for your kind comments.

To say this is a massive shock would be an understatement. We were not expecting this. Only a couple of weeks ago Dad had been emailing St Austell with his contributions for the coming programme for the new season. He spent the weekend with his grandson, and on the day itself he had been going about his usual Monday routine. He had gone to the gym, done some shopping and finished by gardening with my mum. Dad did not suffer and passed away peacefully.

Dad took his role as president of St Austell very seriously. It gave him much pride and purpose. Football was always his main hobby, and Cornwall his spiritual home. His interest in St Austell never left him, but his increasing role at the club over recent years allowed him to make new friends and reestablish old friendships from his childhood.

The St Austell Voice have just written an article with contributions from the St Austell chairman James Hutchins and Chris Osborne (Sticker), a very close friend of Dad's who has known him since his school days.

We have been overwhelmed by the response we've had from everyone who knew Dad - friends, fellow football fans, colleagues and former students alike.

Dad's funeral will be held at Woodlands Crematorium, Birmingham Road, Coleshill B46 1DP on Monday 24th July at 2 pm. All are welcome to attend. It will be family flowers only, but if you would like to leave a donation it will be to the British Heart Foundation.

If you would like any more details I can be reached by private message on here.

 

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