Sporting heroes: Peter Stewart
We asked our sports reporters in Rochdale to think of people from the world of sport - local or national or even international - who they considered to be heroes. One of our older journalists, Paul Taylor, chose the chairman of his local football team Heywood casuals who he has known for more than 20 years. Here?s what he had to say:
Peter Stewart, what can I say about him? "The chairman" as he is more fondly referred to. He is probably the funniest individual I?ve ever worked with in Sport. His attitude to everything is so positive. It is difficult to find the words to describe the guy - he is the finest.
Anytime, morning, noon or night, his words are always ?don?t worry, I?ll ring them and sort it!?
I started to play for Heywood Casuals in 83-84 as a 20 year old up and coming player, joining a team of very good players who were sadly getting older. The next few years were probably the most enjoyable of my career.
But people were getting older and all of a sudden we were struggling. People weren?t turning up, then we lost our treasurer. Then in stepped Peter Stewart.
The show must go on! Peter, who is now 62, went from full time supporter, to the kitman, linesman and then eventually the chairman.
All the time his infectious enthusiasm continuing to rub off on all around, especially myself. A succession of managers followed, with things becoming slowly worse. Peter was bringing in his daughter?s boyfriend just to make the numbers up, anything just to get a team out.
Then at the age of 27 I had my first taste as player-manager. Frustration and anger were never far away. But again, the chairman was there with his usual brand of humour - ?Well we might have the worst team in the league, but we?ve certainly got the best kit.?
His fundraising skills through his contacts, his constant questioning of people involved in the club, made us realise that this i the kind of chairman that would attract new, young people to the club.
Peter gave us a base to build on again. And so the rebuilding began with my contacts in local football and a team of enthusiastic committee members - it all bode well for the future.
The chairman had done it!
And it is only now that the dream is over that I realise how much work is needed to make a sporting team a success. But I always think it is the people behind the scenes who make a club and a player successful - not just the player.
I?ve had the pleasure of working with some great players and committee at Heywood Casuals, but Peter ?The Chairman? Stewart will always be remembered for his work, not just by me, but by all the other teams and players that came across him. To say he left his mark in local Sunday football is an understatement.
We asked our sports reporters in Rochdale to think of people from the world of sport - local or national or even international - who they considered to be heroes. One of our older journalists, Paul Taylor, chose the chairman of his local football team Heywood casuals who he has known for more than 20 years. Here?s what he had to say:
Peter Stewart, what can I say about him? "The chairman" as he is more fondly referred to. He is probably the funniest individual I?ve ever worked with in Sport. His attitude to everything is so positive. It is difficult to find the words to describe the guy - he is the finest.
Anytime, morning, noon or night, his words are always ?don?t worry, I?ll ring them and sort it!?
I started to play for Heywood Casuals in 83-84 as a 20 year old up and coming player, joining a team of very good players who were sadly getting older. The next few years were probably the most enjoyable of my career.
But people were getting older and all of a sudden we were struggling. People weren?t turning up, then we lost our treasurer. Then in stepped Peter Stewart.
The show must go on! Peter, who is now 62, went from full time supporter, to the kitman, linesman and then eventually the chairman.
All the time his infectious enthusiasm continuing to rub off on all around, especially myself. A succession of managers followed, with things becoming slowly worse. Peter was bringing in his daughter?s boyfriend just to make the numbers up, anything just to get a team out.
Then at the age of 27 I had my first taste as player-manager. Frustration and anger were never far away. But again, the chairman was there with his usual brand of humour - ?Well we might have the worst team in the league, but we?ve certainly got the best kit.?
His fundraising skills through his contacts, his constant questioning of people involved in the club, made us realise that this i the kind of chairman that would attract new, young people to the club.
Peter gave us a base to build on again. And so the rebuilding began with my contacts in local football and a team of enthusiastic committee members - it all bode well for the future.
The chairman had done it!
And it is only now that the dream is over that I realise how much work is needed to make a sporting team a success. But I always think it is the people behind the scenes who make a club and a player successful - not just the player.
I?ve had the pleasure of working with some great players and committee at Heywood Casuals, but Peter ?The Chairman? Stewart will always be remembered for his work, not just by me, but by all the other teams and players that came across him. To say he left his mark in local Sunday football is an understatement.
Author: Paul Taylor
Rochdale iJourno group
posted by iJourno at 8:13 pm
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