Aldershot Town FC were shocked and saddened to learn of the death of former staff member Denise Still last week.
Denise served Aldershot FC and Aldershot Town for 50 years with total and selfless commitment, and the Club is a poorer place for her passing.
We are very grateful to Denise’s former colleague and ATFC co-founder, Graham Brookland, who has written this fitting eulogy.
The main course for football supporters is when the match commences. Indeed what happens in the build-up and post-match is immaterial to most. However, to function successfully it takes special people. It takes people who are loyal to the cause, diplomatic, committed and above all who care passionately about their football club. DENISE STILL was one such person. Many of you will be unaware of the role that she played at Aldershot. She was an extremely private person, rarely saw any of the football, never complained, but her dedication to the Club was invaluable.
Born on 23 July 1944 in South Yorkshire, the connection with Aldershot and Denise started just after the end of the Second World War when her father Dennis Lievesley, who served in the RAF, signed as a player. When his playing days were over the Lievesley family settled in Aldershot and Dennis remained a solid part of the back room staff at Aldershot FC and could always be seen in the club offices and, especially, as a key member of the match day staff.
Dennis was made a Life Patron of the new Aldershot Town in 1992 and sadly passed away five years later but the Lievesley and Still association remained very much alive.
Incredibly, Denise’s involvement with the Club commenced in the mid-1960s, as a match day volunteer. Her service to football in Aldershot totalled over 50 years whilst her husband Alan was involved from 1974. The reason why many of you may have been unaware of the superb role Denise played at Aldershot? She was the Chief Cashier counting the turnstile receipts, sometimes well after the end of the match. She combined this role by also helping at the club reception area too. With a background in banking, working at Barclays, Denise was the ideal person to help a football club where a family involvement stemmed back to 1948.
During my time as Company Secretary, Denise, alongside Alan who was responsible for the Turnstile Operators, represented Aldershot Town magnificently. Conscientious, reliable and discreet she possessed everything that the role required. It was a pleasure to work with her and, of course, there were many occasions during those periods where the gate receipts were huge and the requirement for the full quota of Turnstile Operators essential.
The likes of Denise Still are too few these days. A volunteer who always put the Football Club first and who loved to play her part in a quiet but extremely efficient way.
Denise passed away on Christmas Eve in Frimley Park Hospital after an illness deteriorated over the latter part of 2015. She will be missed by her many friends at Aldershot Town Football Club but her dedication of over 50 years’ service to her club will remain forever.
Her funeral will be held on Friday 22 January at 11.30am at Aldershot Crematorium, with a gathering at the Shepherd and Flock pub in Farnham afterwards. Donations are to be made to the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice.
Our thoughts are with Alan and family at such a difficult time.
Graham Brookland
