TRIBUTES POUR IN FOR MUCH LOVED BRIAN FOLLOWING HIS SAD PASSING!
- Carlton Town Chairman Mick Garton says he can not remember a day when he received so many text messages and pretty much all of them were about one man!
This website is devastated to comfirm the news that Carlton’s much loved Commercial Manager Brian Dennett passed away last night after contracting Covid 19.
Brian had been with the club pretty much throughout Garton’s tenure first as Press Officer before being promoted to Commercial Manager over a decade ago.
“He was a brilliant Commercial Manager who raised thousands for this football club, but more than anything a close friend and he will leave a big hole in so many ways” said the Millers Chairman.
Joint manager Mark Harvey spoke to us earlier following the sad news and told us “
What do you say about Brian.
I met him many years back whilst playing wanting his player profile for the evening post.
From then on it felt like you never walked in a local ground anywhere without him being there greeting you. As a manager he drove me crazy getting player profiles then passing my best players numbers on to other managers, but then again when I wanted a number who did I call.
I’m certain for the last 20 year I’ve never seen him without having to buy a raffle ticket.
He loved his hospitality at clubs and who could argue he hadn’t earnt the right for it. A true legend of local football and will be sadly missed by everyone who met him.
But I can guarantee he’s making a nuisance of himself up there already.
Rest well Brian”
Club legend Martin Ball who is still playing for the club was another in touch with us today and paid the following tribute.
“Firstly I want to send my love and condolences to all of Brian’s family and thank them for the time he spent at football over the years…he must have been at football matches more than he was at home! Brian was a real Nottingham non league man, and one of the genuine good guys in football. He epitomised everything that is Carlton Town and going to home games without Bri being one of the first people I have a chat to, while he eats his biscuits, will certainly take some getting used to! No matter how often you’d seen him, or how long you had known him he could keep people talking non league football for hours, and the outpouring of tweets and messages I’ve seen the last 24 hours is the only way I can think to even begin to explain how much he was loved as a person, and as a friend. The effect he’s had on Carlton in particular and all of Nottingham non league football will never be forgotten. Rest In Peace Brian, you will be greatly missed”
Vice Chairman Barry North and Vice President Jackie North were among many devastated by Brian’s death and also penned some lovely words in tribute.
Tribute to a top man
Brian Dennett
“It is with sadness that we write this,
Our hearts go out to his family at this very sad time.
Brian was a kind and caring friend with a heart of gold.
Brian will be greatly missed at Charlton Town Football Club and in the football world.
We are proud to have been freinds with you for many years”
GOD BLESS
Barry and Jackie
One of Brian’s closest friends at the club was Phil Jennings and he had been keeping many asking about Brian up to date and told us
“There was always something about Brian that would make you smile and over the last eight years he did that each time we met up.I will miss you my friend,thanks for everything”
Another Carlton Town legend Grant Brindley was yet another in touch with the club today when he heard the news.
“I was really sad to hear the passing of Brian last night, his knowledge of non league football was second to none, he just seemed to know every player and member of staff everywhere he went. I think I only saw him get angry once , which was when the coach driver wouldn’t let him bring his dog on the bus, so he ended up driving up! I know he did a lot of good work for the club, and at the football post for a good number of years which is really going to be missed. Whenever I would see him we would always have a good chat, he always had time for you. RIP Brian”
Brian was not only popular with supporters and his fellow committee members, but also the players as seen with the tributes from Bally and Brinners and another club legend still playing in non other than Daryl Thomas who also had some moving words.
“I’ve know Brian since the age of 16 from my time at Dunkirk when he did the Evening post, I think he was responsible for a couple of moves I got as he was always very complimentary in his match reports about me! Wherever I have played when ever I have seen him I’ve always made a point of stopping and having a conversation with him he was one of a kind, the role he played at Carlton over the years was nothing short of incredible. The last conversation I had with him he didn’t sound great but I’m just so thankful that I got to speak to him one last time – my prayers and best wishes go out to Brian’s family he will be truly missed. Rest in peace my friend “Daryll
The remarkable thing about Brian, he was known by virtually everyone in local non league football and Coalville Town’s Stuart Scott was one of many in touch with the club today telling us “So sorry to hear about Brian, a unique character who will be missed by everyone, please pass on my condolences to his family and everyone at Carlton”
Brian was even popular among referees often helping out in hospitality and sorting a drink for the match officials before games and Northern Premier referee Martin Fryer contacted the club this afternoon speaking on behalf of match officials who all knew Brian said
“All the referees enjoyed talking to Brian and it won’t be the same on Match days with him not coming to have a laugh with us. Our thoughts go out to the club and his family”
Former Championship winning Carlton Town Reseve team and Academy manager Ian Spencer said “Local football has lost a legend, so sad RIP Brian”
Another legend Ian White was in touch from Spain today sending his condolences along with former twice winning Senior cup final star Star now at Ilkeston Town, Alex Troke who said
“So sorry to hear about the passing of Brian, what a man he was!”
The Monkey Tree crew who helped fund buses for away trips during Carlton brilliant league cup run a few years ago were in touch with both Pete Smith and Phil James contacting us separately to pay their respects.
Babs from the Millers Junoir section was another in touch as the list of people paying their condolences grew throughout the day as news spread and Babs told us.
“Our hearts are heavy, the Juniors will forever be grateful for your time and effort you gave us. We will miss your presence and video calls and the ground will not be the same without you, RIP Brian, love from all of us at Carlton Town Juniors Fc”
The club’s senior management have already decided that they will be naming the Academy suite at the ground in his honour and were able to tell him this before he passed as Brian knew in the last few days, the doctors could do no more for him.
He told Chairman Mick Garton and Mark Steggles “that would be nice” and only an hour earlier from his hospital bed, he had contacted a sponsor to remind him to sponsor an up and coming game.
This website understands the club will be holding their own tribute event when restrictions are lifted to honour a much loved individual and everyone from the Football family along with his family will be invited to attend, those talks and details are for a later date, but final words for now go to Club President Roger Smith.
“Viv and I would like to offer our condolences to Brian’s family at this sad time. In every football club, there is always a character and Brian was the one at CTFC for all the fund raising and meeting people which he loved to do, this was his life. His friendship and his smile will be sadly missed by everyone in the football circle but will never be forgotten. The Academy Suite will be named after him” the president confirmed.