In Memory of John M. Alston

It is with great sadness that the Club announces the passing of John Alston. John who was 90 years old worked tirelessly for Coggeshall Town for five decades making him a true Club Legend. In the Nineteen Forty’s and Fifty’s John played and captained the “Town”, often receiving comments in match reports that “ Alston, Moore and Wade defended well”. During John’s playing career the Club achieved promotion in 1952 to the Premier Division of the Colchester and East Essex League, which at that time was one of the strongest Junior Leagues in the County. Coggeshall Town also reached Seven Cup Finals, Winning Two and Runners-up in Five.
In 1948 John became the clubs Hon Secretary, keeping immaculate Minutes of meetings and club records. These were unfortunately lost in a garage fire in the early Nineteen Eighty’s. John continued this work through the Nineteen Fifty’s and Sixties. In 1961 John was involved in the move from ‘Highfields’ to our current home at the ‘Crops’ (Now called West Street). As well as his Secretary’s duties John used to mark out the pitch on match days, a job he took seriously, as he would not let anyone else do it as he felt they did not do it well enough. He also used to make the Tea at Half time ensuring it was always ready when the players came in. In 1969 John received a County FA award for ‘Long and Valued Service to Essex Football since 1945’. This period was also one of the most successful in the Clubs history culminating with Coggeshall Town being the first North Essex club to win the Essex Intermediate Cup in 1971. Also in 1971 one of John’s proudest moments was Winning the Worthington Evans Cup, beating Sudbury Town at Colchester’s Layer Road ground. These achievements were followed by the move to the Essex Senior League in 1972, the clubs highest ever League placing at that time. John Was Hon Secretary when the Club celebrated its One Hundredth Anniversary in 1978. He finally retired in the Nineteen Eighty’s completing five-decades of service to Coggeshall Town Football Club, a remarkable achievement. John made a huge contribution to the History of Coggeshall Town, and will be greatly missed by all. The Club will observe a minutes silence in the memory of John, before the game against Haverhill Borough on Easter Monday.