Tributes to a Great Man
Club legend Jim Steele passed away on Saturday 12th February 2011. All at Hawcoat Park send their love and support to Wendy, Peter, Heidi, Michael and Richard.
Many people have sent messages to club members that we thought should be shared with all so we are listing them below. If you would like to add a message please send to cafbaeb@tesco.net
The North West Evening Mail have a tribute page which you can view by clicking HERE
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A numbness hit Hawcoat
Park Rugby Club on Saturday afternoon when the news was received that our great
friend and team mate Jim Steele had suffered a set back in his recovery from a
heart attack and had passed away at Furness
General Hospital.
Jim's circa 40 year connection to our club is unique and will never ever be
emulated, 760 first team games alone and numerous other second team games,
either side of his illustrious first team career, means he has pulled on his
beloved maroon and white over 1000 times.
Jim was respected by every one of the opposing players he came up against. Hard
as nails he never ever took one backward step on a rugby pitch and whilst his
game was built around physical running and defence he never ever
did anything underhand, but woe betide any opponent who did manage anything
'dirty' against one of his younger team mates as Jim always took it upon himself
to protect lads finding their way in the game.
After a hard game of rugby Jim enjoyed nothing better than sharing a Guinness
with the opponents and catching up.
Leaving his rugby performance to one side Jim and his family were at the
heartbeat of everything that is good about our family club and he will be
remembered as a true gentleman and friend, there is no doubting there are a lot
of lads whose lives have been enriched through knowing Jim Steele.
I do not think you can have a better accolade in any team sport than to have all
younger team mates referring to you as 'legend' and there can be no more fitting
tribute as that really is the case.
If you were to ask anyone at this rugby club they would tell you they were proud
to have known and had Jim in their lives and he will truly never be forgotten.
Jim is from a large family but this rugby club is part of his extended family
and we have lost a 'family' member. Whilst we hurt as a club the thoughts
of everyone involved go out to Jim's family, especially his wife Wendy and
children Peter, Heidi, Michael and Richard at this extremely sad time.
John Horne - Chairman
For and on behalf of everyone at Hawcoat Park Rugby Union
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To
All Jim Steele’s Many Friends
On
behalf of Jim’s family I would like to express our deepest thanks to all the
messages of sympathy people have left for my Dad. The heartfelt messages have
brought a great comfort to my family expressing how Jim was held in such high
regard. The many family memories we have of being with Dad up at the club will
be cherished forever. To lose our Dad so suddenly was a great shock to all of us
but we know he will be forever in everyone’s hearts.
So
from the bottom of our hearts Thank You.
Heidi
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HAWCOAT PARK A 19th FEBRUARY 2011
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Just
found out today, as I took my son to play football at Hawcoat Park about
Jimmy's passing. As I have put on facebook, Jimmy was definitely the hardest and
fairest opponent I ever faced, in 25 years of playing rugby for Millom RUFC.
Jimmy will be a massive loss to all who knew him and the game will be poorer for
his passing, but better for having been graced by him. God bless Jimmy,
sleep well lad!
Slu
Clarke,
Millom
RUFC 1982-2007
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I
had the pleasure of working with Jim, during his time at WorleyParsons, in
London.
It
was a pleasure to know Jim, nothing was too much trouble for him, he was a true
gent who will be sadly missed.
My
thoughts and best wishes go to Jims wife & family,
Paul
mason
Very
sad news, thinking of you all.
Kev Cassley
Hello All
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Please
pass on my deepest condolences to Jim’s family and friends on the tragic
passing of Vickers RUFC greatest servant and a once in a life time character.
I
know he won’t mind me saying this, but the first I heard was Sunday morning
13/02/11
Besides
being an awesome footballer who could have played at a far higher level should
he have chosen, Jim was a true gentleman who loved life, his family and friends
and the Vickers Club. He was no saint but you could not help but love and admire
him for the genuine and loyal bloke that he was.
Jim
was generous with his time and always had time for everybody. His
enthusiasm for the game and the club knew no bounds, his record speaks for
itself. Forgive me for feeling nostalgic but it is hard not to be at a time like
this.
I
could always count on three things from Jim STEELE on my trips back to
Barrow. The first was, he would always ask me the same question when I
went up the club “Have you got your boots with you?” as to him it was
probably unimaginable that a person would want to stop playing before he reached
70 years old.
The
second was his big laugh and smile following the inevitable answer which
was usually unrepeatable in this type of format but along the lines of “No
Jim, I’m never going to make the Guinness Book of Records but you probably
will, I really have retired from playing !!”
The
third was he would always buy you a whisky chaser to accompany whatever
beer you may be drinking at the time.
I
consider myself fortunate to have played with and against some cracking players
both in the
I’m
proud to say I knew Jim STEELE.
I
miss him, we all will miss him but he will never be forgotten.
God
Bless you Jim.
Karl
DODD
Brisbane
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On behalf of Hawcoat Park cricket section we extend our sympathies to the family
and to the rugby section. He will be sorely missed around the club both on and
off the pitch. It was our AGM tonight and the lads wanted to observe a minutes
silence.
Regards Craig Barrass (Chairman)
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I
had the pleasure of working with Jim on a couple of occasions, the most
memorable in Glasgow on the Kinniel project. He was always an inspiration, a
joker and a really good guy. I know he will be greatly missed by all those he
touched in his life.
Deepest
sympathy
Tony
Burgess
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I've
been working with Jim in London and to say he'll be sadly missed
doesn't seem to do him justice.
Thanks
Lad and God bless
Colin
Slinger (London)
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To
Jim's family and friends.
I
had the great pleasure of opposing Jim on a rugby pitch for the last 25 years. I
am deeply saddened by the news of his passing. A legend is a word to easily used
but it befits Jim in every way. I will miss the glint in his eye when he thinks
he got one over on you and his friendship and camaraderie will be a great loss
to everyone who ever met Jim.
I
could go on and on but I envy those that played with Jim and had the pleasure of
his company every Saturday evening.
I
shall miss him greatly and condolences to his family and friends.
Mike
Gregg Windermere and Ambleside Rugby Clubs.
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He's
a sad loss to us all. A pleasure to be on the same pitch with him even
though I had with the whistle & he had the knowing smile.
Mike Kittley
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So
sorry to hear the news, he will be a big miss to all
Dan Shovelton
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I am SO sad to hear about Jim. My condolences to his family and all at
Vickers
Gary Walkden
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Tragic
news,
I
only saw him a couple of weeks ago on Preston Station.
Rick
Scott
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Really
upsetting news, Jim was a great bloke.
Regards,
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I
had heard through some friends of mine in Barrow
Can I offer my deepest condolences, a great man of rugby Jim will be missed
Martin Plummer
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A
great loss
Neil
Carruthers
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Many
shocked on this contract for the very well liked Jim who was a true gentleman.
Mike
Mike
Walsh
Verification Engineer
WorleyParsons London
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Could you please pass on our
deepest condolences to the family of Jim and all those at Hawcoat
Park from everyone at Tyldesley RUFC. On many trips up to Vickers over the years one
of our keenest talking points would be whether “Big Jim” would be playing
for you and our likelihood of success if he was.
I guess that is where the LEGEND
tag gets more emphasis when other clubs talk about you before the game!
Not only a great loss to his
family and
Deepest sympathy
Howard Hughes
Tyldesley
RUFC
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Very
sad to hear this from the Tarleton Rugby Club perspective. I
hadn't appreciated just how well known Jim was until I was talking with other
members of the club and they recall him playing for Vickers/Hawcoat many years
ago. To have got in 850 appearances, he clearly was playing for a long
time.
On
behalf of Tarleton Rugby Club, please accept our condolences. It is a sad
loss.
Regards,
Jonathan
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Just
a quick email to pass on our condolences from all at Carnforth Rugby Club for
the loss of the legend Jim Steele - not only will he be missed by Hawcoat Park
– I’m sure the whole of Cumbria and the North West have lost a true rugby
great.
We know what it is like to lose a player of such high esteem and it is difficult
but knowing the Hawcoat club I am sure you will all pull together.
Once again please pass our best regards to the family of Jim and also to the
Hawcoat Park players, officials and supporters.
Best regards
Alan
Carnforth RUFC
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