Mr Robin Rycroft Vale.
THE manager of Sandown Football Club has died following a short illness.
Robin Rycroft Vale, 59, was born in Southgate North London, and attended George Spicer Grammar School, before leaving to start work as an apprentice carpenter.
His career expanded into general building and landscape gardening, with the pinnacle being reached when he was employed as regional manager in North Wales for Brophy’s.
Mr Vale moved to the Island in 1993, and worked as financial controller of Tower House residential home and then returned to the building trade.
Mr Vale met his wife, Carol, in 1988 and they married in September 2009.
He was a keen sportsman and competed at county level in javelin as a teenager and also played snooker, cricket and football.
He was an ardent supporter of Tottenham Hotspur.
Mr Vale joined Sandown FC as reserve team manager and moved on to manage the first team. Under his management, Sandown were finalists in the Memorial Cup, won the Junior A Cup, and only missed out on promotion last year on goal difference.
Martin Groves, from Sandown FC, said: "Mr Vale did so much for the club and the people involved in it. He was well respected and loved and he will be greatly missed."
Mr Vale was well known in Sandown and throughout the footballing community on the Island for his positive and enthusiastic outlook on life.
He died at The Earl Mountbatten Hospice following an illness and fulfilled his wish to 'show the family how it should be done’.
His dream had always been to run a cafe when he retired, and in January he took over the Superbowl Cafe in Sandown.
Mr Vale leaves his wife, daughters Emma, Laura and Sarah, son Robert and seven grandchildren.
His funeral will take place at the IW Crematorium on Tuesday at 3pm, followed by a gathering at the Old Comical Pub, Sandown. Friends and family are welcome at both.
The family have requested no flowers but if people want to make a donation it should go to Sandown FC.
• Family announcements are at http://www.iwcp.co.uk/search/familyannouncements.aspx This week's announcements will be online by 4pm today (Friday)