Stockholm Spireite, on 30 June 2016 - 07:10 PM, said:
Scott, Scott, Scott... it's about gestures and doing the right thing by people, even when you don't have to. The club have screwed up massively. Ernie did nothing but give - to the club and to individuals in the community. I'll give you an example of Ernie's gestures to my family, over a couple of years -no doubt, I might even get beaten with the 'holier-than-thou' stick in the process, but here goes.
My mother passed away when I was in primary school. I'm one of four siblings (we were 6,8,10 &12 at the time), and the sport-mad one the family. We definitely grew up poor, but very much-loved. When my dad gave up work to raise us on his own, all my sports gear was bought from Moss and Miller. Geoff knew dad well and was sympathetic to our situation, but Ernie was amazing.
Knowing dad couldn't afford to buy boots and other things outright for a growing boy, Ernie ran his own line of weekly credit for dad. This involved dad visiting and discussing the weekend results in the stock room; taking payment in private and allowing dad to retain some dignity, as well a chat about how things were and how he, and we, were coping.
Dad always apologised when he paid an installment entirely in coins, and Ernie always told him he had nothing to apologise for. Ernie made dad feel special and yet normal at the same time. He didn't have to do any of this, and I thanked him profusely when I found out about this years later.
It's been said that the true test of a man's character is what he does when nobody's looking. Ernie made sure nobody was looking each time he met my dad. That's character. That's not a man deserving of your paltry remarks. I've contributed anonymously to the stewarding fund and also directly to the charity funds. It's only right to reciprocate.
Ernie didn't have to help my family, but chose to. He reached out when we 'needed' help. At this time, I can't think of not fully supporting Sarah and Nikki in their efforts to collect every penny that Ernie and these charities deserve.
It brings it back to my first line - doing the right thing by people, even when you don't have to.
What a great story. Ignore Scott, his recent posts highlight a considerable amount of idiocy.
This post has been edited by hilly81: 30 June 2016 - 08:26 PM