Post by medwayyellow on Apr 4, 2008 8:35:07 GMT
It is along time since I have been here and unfortunately my return is in tragic circumstances.
I'm Roger Maddams, aka "Medway Yellow" who alongside "Archie Spleen" documented all things choc & amber around the turn of the decade including the '99 championship.
I was always accompanied by my 2 lads, Robert & Jack. We went everywhere together - Kidderminster 95 was their first away game. We loved it, and their love of football was wholly generated by going to the game, having a kick about with Dave Archie beforehand, standing behind the goal & bellowing ourselves hoarse and laughing outselves nuts.
Jack grew up to be an extremely talented footballer. Our curtailment of Sutton-attending was the result of him being spotted by Gillingham FC at the age of 8. He played for the Gills for 7 years and instead of us watching Enfield & Purfleet, we were watching him at Brighton, Bournemouth, Millwall or whoever the Gills played. He captained the school, he captained Kent Schoolboys, he got to the last 32 of the England Schoolboys under 18s and was on standby for the home internationals taking place at the moment.
He left the Gills in 2005 & joined Tonbridge Angels. His last act in a Tonbridge shirt was to score a cracker in the Ryman Youth league game against Tooting. I always wanted to see him play at GGL and be unsure who to cheer for.
Jack was equally talented at school. He was an A star pupil on his way to University to study Fine Art. He could draw like no-one else I knew. He played rugby, he ran at cross country and 100m for school, Medway and County.
Jack tragically passed away in his sleep, peacefully and painlessly on Sunday 30 March. He had not been ill - suspected heart failure is likely although the outcome will not be known for weeks. It is similar to mark-Vivien Foe, Simon Donnelly and another lad I knew, Paul Sykes of Folkestone.
Football across Kent particularly is rallying round unbelievably to us grieving family members. Gillingham had a perfectly observed minutes silence on Tuesday and have offered the whole suite of club facilities for the celebration after his service next Tuesday - the day of what would have been Jack's 18th birthday. Tonbridge are dedicating tomorrows game v Harrow to Jack. All Kent games this weekend will have a minute's silence, as will England Schoolboys v Wales tonight.
Underneath it all, Jack had veins containing chocolate & amber blood. he is named Jack Matthew Maddams in honour of Matt Hanlon's winner v Cov. He was ballboy at the Lane twice in the 90's, meeting Matt on one occasion and having his nose bloodied by a wayward warmup shot from Mark Hynes another time. Garry McCann the keeper was Jack's favourite - he & Robert always used to shake Gary's hand for luck before games. I am looking at a picture of jack now holding the Carlton Cup at Purfleet in 96 when we beat Boreham Wood on pens. He always remembered big Colin picking him up by his feet and waving him around upside down before the game. Purfleet was a favourite place for us (true!). We had to pay to get OUT of there once when our kickabout ball sailed onto the pitch from us playing out the back of the ground in the car park. We got in via a hole in the fence to get the ball, only to be charged £5 by the gateman to get out to pick up our goalpost coats. I got whacked in the face by Jools when jack was bouncing his ball once too often. 21 December 98 must have been the coldest night we ever saw a game when we beat Purfleet 3-1 - a crowd so low the crowd changes were announced to the teams rather than vice versa.
Winalot Steve Watson was the other fave - the big floppy dog who loved a 30 yard backheeled pass in our eyes.
jack was deeply loved and his death is still a raw wound. A facebook tribute via RIP Jack Maddams is growing by the minute and anyone who knows Jack or the Medway Yellows are welcome. The funeral is on Tues 8 April at 10.00 at the garden of England Crematorium, Bobbing, Sittingbourne,Kent. A memorial fund is now established for Jack to be administered by his school - details from John Weir Funeral Directors on 01634 386999.
And finally....it was Jack who kicked off the "blondie blondie what's the score?" at Aylesbury on 10 April 99 - 2 days after his birthday.
Bye, boyo.
I'm Roger Maddams, aka "Medway Yellow" who alongside "Archie Spleen" documented all things choc & amber around the turn of the decade including the '99 championship.
I was always accompanied by my 2 lads, Robert & Jack. We went everywhere together - Kidderminster 95 was their first away game. We loved it, and their love of football was wholly generated by going to the game, having a kick about with Dave Archie beforehand, standing behind the goal & bellowing ourselves hoarse and laughing outselves nuts.
Jack grew up to be an extremely talented footballer. Our curtailment of Sutton-attending was the result of him being spotted by Gillingham FC at the age of 8. He played for the Gills for 7 years and instead of us watching Enfield & Purfleet, we were watching him at Brighton, Bournemouth, Millwall or whoever the Gills played. He captained the school, he captained Kent Schoolboys, he got to the last 32 of the England Schoolboys under 18s and was on standby for the home internationals taking place at the moment.
He left the Gills in 2005 & joined Tonbridge Angels. His last act in a Tonbridge shirt was to score a cracker in the Ryman Youth league game against Tooting. I always wanted to see him play at GGL and be unsure who to cheer for.
Jack was equally talented at school. He was an A star pupil on his way to University to study Fine Art. He could draw like no-one else I knew. He played rugby, he ran at cross country and 100m for school, Medway and County.
Jack tragically passed away in his sleep, peacefully and painlessly on Sunday 30 March. He had not been ill - suspected heart failure is likely although the outcome will not be known for weeks. It is similar to mark-Vivien Foe, Simon Donnelly and another lad I knew, Paul Sykes of Folkestone.
Football across Kent particularly is rallying round unbelievably to us grieving family members. Gillingham had a perfectly observed minutes silence on Tuesday and have offered the whole suite of club facilities for the celebration after his service next Tuesday - the day of what would have been Jack's 18th birthday. Tonbridge are dedicating tomorrows game v Harrow to Jack. All Kent games this weekend will have a minute's silence, as will England Schoolboys v Wales tonight.
Underneath it all, Jack had veins containing chocolate & amber blood. he is named Jack Matthew Maddams in honour of Matt Hanlon's winner v Cov. He was ballboy at the Lane twice in the 90's, meeting Matt on one occasion and having his nose bloodied by a wayward warmup shot from Mark Hynes another time. Garry McCann the keeper was Jack's favourite - he & Robert always used to shake Gary's hand for luck before games. I am looking at a picture of jack now holding the Carlton Cup at Purfleet in 96 when we beat Boreham Wood on pens. He always remembered big Colin picking him up by his feet and waving him around upside down before the game. Purfleet was a favourite place for us (true!). We had to pay to get OUT of there once when our kickabout ball sailed onto the pitch from us playing out the back of the ground in the car park. We got in via a hole in the fence to get the ball, only to be charged £5 by the gateman to get out to pick up our goalpost coats. I got whacked in the face by Jools when jack was bouncing his ball once too often. 21 December 98 must have been the coldest night we ever saw a game when we beat Purfleet 3-1 - a crowd so low the crowd changes were announced to the teams rather than vice versa.
Winalot Steve Watson was the other fave - the big floppy dog who loved a 30 yard backheeled pass in our eyes.
jack was deeply loved and his death is still a raw wound. A facebook tribute via RIP Jack Maddams is growing by the minute and anyone who knows Jack or the Medway Yellows are welcome. The funeral is on Tues 8 April at 10.00 at the garden of England Crematorium, Bobbing, Sittingbourne,Kent. A memorial fund is now established for Jack to be administered by his school - details from John Weir Funeral Directors on 01634 386999.
And finally....it was Jack who kicked off the "blondie blondie what's the score?" at Aylesbury on 10 April 99 - 2 days after his birthday.
Bye, boyo.