John Cracknell

Got this awful news this morning and, although sort of expected, it still hit me with a brick.

John and I have been great friends for probably 30 years now, from the old Supporters Club days, fund raising, and working on many ground development projects, culminating in his project Management of arranging equipment and materials, plus overseeing the many volunteer supporters for the construction of the stand extension, where he proudly sat for many years. I can still feel the weight of those concrete beams we lifted manually!!!

There isn't room to pen all the things he got involved with for the Club, and there are very few people around today that would recognise just what he did do anyway, through other ground improvements, and Supporters Trust work, until he finally took up his place in the Platinum Lounge as age and the cold made it uncomfortable to sit outside.

He didn't get any formal recognition, but I don't think he would have wanted it anyway, he just loved the Club(s)!

I travelled many miles across the Country with John, following Boro, Town and FC, either by coach or car, and he always had fascinating conversations about his life working abroad, and I sat beside him for many a match in the Charles Mortimore Stand extension.

Wednesday lunchtimes were also special as we, and several other Boro Supporters, Alan Churchill, Pete Machin, Peter Gough, Roger Groom, David Morley etc, would meet over a pie and a pint, at the New Inn, with great hilarity and trying to put the world to rights, and that is sorely missed now.

So, rest in peace my friend, proud to have know you. 

There aren't many people like John around these days.

Very sorry to hear of John’s passing. May I endorse all of the comments made about John’s contribution to the ground improvement projects as a member of the Supporter’s Club, Ground Development Association and the Supporters Trust. A true volunteer in the full sense of the word. 

The club has much to be thankful for from John’s efforts and especially the extension to the Charles Mortimore Stand. A reliable and solid club supporter over many years. 

Personally, it was always a pleasure to see John in the Platinum Lounge in his latter years and have a chat about the club and the game we were watching.

RIP John

Blimey Brian, there's a blast from the past. John and I stood at the back, as John surveyed just some of his 'crew!

Me, John, Peter, you, Steve, Tony, Paul and Alan. 

I still wince at the weight of those beams we are all sat on! They were pre stressed concrete beams, probably 25 feet long, which bowed as they were lifted, and all had to be manually fitted in to position. No cranes available then!!!

They were carried with four guys each side, ropes under the beam and over each shoulder.
Lifted, on john's call, and marched in step to place them on the brick pillars.
Three beams to each step side by side, and four or five steps to place. 15 of the bl***dy things, and we were knackered at end of it.

These beams formed what is now the footwell of the new seat rows.
After they settled, the gaps had to be filled with concrete to form a smooth floor, and then bricked up to match the next level face.

Six foot deep footings had previously been dug by hand, and John organised the pre mix to come in one Saturday morning to fill them up to brick laying level. Brick support piers where then built. Can't recall who the brickie was?

The wooden seats, that John O'Hara is fitting, did indeed come from Coventry City when they left Highfield Road. Don't know who organised that, but a huge lorry turned up one day fully loaded with seats, backrests and frames, all of which required hours of rubbing down and painting before fitting to the stand bases.

The whole stand project was started by the Club, but fully assisted by the Supporters Club Ground Development fund.

A season long raffle ensued, with a Ford Fiesta as the prize which, ironically knowing his recent passing, was won by Gerry Darcy's wife Chris, which I reminded her of at his recent funeral!!

The total of the Stand construction was around £28,000, of which the GDA managed to raise a fantastic £16,000,
and most of this fund raising, and work, was under John's guidance!!

I had several more pictures of the sequence of construction, from the professionals erecting the steelwork, to more of the lads working.

I passed them on to Garbo a while back for him to make a collage of, but they seem to have been mislaid.

He thinks they may be in the shop office somewhere, so if anyone comes across them, or has any other copies, I would love to have them, and I will try to arrange something in honour of John's work, plus the valuable help from so many Boro Supporters.

So many memories of great times gone by, and friends working for a cause!! Not sure it would happen again!!

Text me or call me 07795093505.

I've just remembered, it was Alan Cliff, great lad taken so early!! Apologies to his family!!