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General Category => Altrincham FC First Team => Topic started by: TheCultOfIanTunnacliffe on December 28, 2019, 06:43:55 PM
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I was extremely sad to learn today of the death of long-standing Altrincham FC supporter Mike Garnett (alias 'roytonmike' on this forum), who had followed the fortunes of this club both home and away assiduously since the late 1960s.
A familiar figure leaning on the perimeter fence at the Golf Road End just to the side of the goal, Mike was a regular and sagacious contributor to the Robins Review over many years and a veritable fount of statistical information in relation to the club and its players, much of which he was kind enough to share with me.
As a friend has just texted to me, Mike was fundamentally a good man with whom to watch and talk football.
My condolences to his family and friends (particularly his fellow Alty compatriots Kim Brocklehurst, Malcolm Riley and USA exile Howard Watts).
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Indeed, yes. It's very sad news. Mike was an extremely knowledgeable historian and statistician of the club, as well as a friend, and I will miss his knowledge and company very much.
RIP Mike.
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As well as being an absolute fount of football knowledge, Mike was the only man I knew who had seen Arsene Wenger play. RIP.
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Another stalwart says goodbye :'( RIP x
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I knew of Mike and often saw him standing with his friends pitchside. The longest conversation I had with him was in Alfreton train station in our relegation season. He correctly predicted our relegation.
RIP.
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Absolutely shocked, His knowledge was unbelievable.
Thoughts go out to his family
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Always a knowledgeable and entertaining contributor to this forum; this is very sad news.
My condolences to Mike's family and many friends.
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Totally shocked and saddened by this news. I had the pleasure knowing Mike as a colleague when, in 1996, I got a job where he was already in position. Over the 10 years that followed, we shared many conversations about The Robins and in doing so he became the catalyst that drew me back to Moss Lane after a few years absence. Now, as a season ticket holder along with my son, it has been a pleasure to stand with him leaning against the perimeter fence.
As others have already said, he possessed a formidable knowledge of the football club; not a game went by when I didn't wonder at his ability to recall some ostensibly minor detail from a game that had taken place (sometimes) decades ago.
The club has lost one of its most devoted and longstanding fans. My thoughts, naturally, are with the family and with those who knew him. R.I.P. Mike.
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A lot of history and knowledge about the club has been lost with this terrible news, mike is another of the ‘always been there’ people that the club has lost with alarming regularity in recent times. I was truly taken aback when the announcement was made today, so sad. He had one of the original altrincham fc coats, that’s an enduring memory of Mike I’ll have despite him not sporting in recent years
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A sad day indeed. Condolences to his family and friends.
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Very shocked at Mike's passing - I had no idea he was so ill - he has been a permanent fixture at pretty much every Alty match I have been to in 40 odd years. I didn't know him well but have been honoured to be part of the little group Mike was the heart and soul of at a few matches and his views were always considered, pertinent and very forthright. He knew his football, and he knew and loved Alty FC as much as any supporter we have ever had.
I saw at close quarters how deeply the terrible seasons of successive relegations impacted his beloved Robins - Thank God he got to see 2 full seasons and a bit more of Phil Parkinson's brand of football bringing the club back from the brink - Mike didn't hand out praise lightly but I know he rated Phil highly and loved the way the team plays under him.
Rest in Peace Mike as you join the Great Statistician in the sky.
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The man in the cap located in his favourite spot:
(https://images.sportbuzzer.de/v1/photos/raw/altrincham7/large-16-9)
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very sad news RIP
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I didn't know Mike, and until now I'd never been able to put a name to the face but I now realise I'd seen him virtually every time I have been to an Altrincham game in the last twenty plus years. Add to that all the times I have read his contributions to John Laidlar's website. Very sad news.
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Please may I thank you for posting this fabulous picture. This scene of three men at a match has been a constant of my many but infrequent visits to Moss Lane for many years. I always went to see Kim Brocklehurst and talked to Mike as well. If you see this post Kim I am sorry to hear that you have lost such a good friend.
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I too, didn't realise that was Mike Garnett. Crikey, I have seen him at every Alty match for years and years. I think I even spoke to him once or twice. Very sad news whenever we lose one of our own. Rest in peace Mike.
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R.I.P. Mike. Enjoyed reading his frequent articles in the Robins Review. Condolences to family and friends.
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Shocked and saddened by this awful news.
RIP Mike
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The following image of Mike Garnett is posted at the request of Phil/One Foot in the Grave, who writes:
"I've blown up my photo of "Puffing Billy" at Shildon Locomotion Museum (taken on Saturday, 16th September 2017), which the great man shamelessly photobombed.
Just before our beloved Robins bombed in quite a different manner!"
(The chap carrying the blue rucksack is fellow long-standing Alty devotee Malcolm Riley).
(https://i.ibb.co/f2RMkWB/Mike-Garnett-at-Shildon-16th-September-2017.jpg)
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My Dad used to stand with Mike, Malcolm, Kim and Malcolm Burgess RIP, analysing and reminiscing. Hopefully Mike is describing the last 9 seasons as only he could and Malcolm and my Dad are loving every word. RIP Mike
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A fitting send-off for Mike in Royton this afternoon.
Good to see such Alty stalwarts present as Kim Brocklehurst, John & Dana Laidlar, Malcolm Riley and Bill Waterson.
It was also splendid to hear that Mike's family intend to donate his extensive Altrincham FC archive to the football club.
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A fitting send-off for Mike in Royton this afternoon.
Good to see such Alty stalwarts present as Kim Brocklehurst, John & Dana Laidlar, Malcolm Riley and Bill Waterson.
It was also splendid to hear that Mike's family intend to donate his extensive Altrincham FC archive to the football club.
:)