Barry Goodwin, who died 2 days before Christmas, was Buxton's chairman at the millennium. He may have filled the position for only just over 2 years, from August 1999 to October 2001 but played a vital yet unenviable role at a very troubled time for the club. His predecessor, the late Ken Perrin, had resigned on the very eve of BFC's debut campaign following the ignominy of back-to-back relegations from the NPL.
Finance and historic debt were at the root of the club's problems so an entirely local team was all that could be afforded, with successful local league manager, Tony 'Oscar' Hodgkinson, put in charge. The opening league match was won but it proved to be a very tough season on the pitch. As well as having to try to pacify the anxious hard-core support that the club had left, Barry also had the totally unenviable task on occasions of telling the players that there were no wages for them. Yet he never hid and did what was essential to keep the club alive. A reassuring presence, Barry rarely missed a match, home or away.
A year later 'Oscar' resigned as manager and was succeeded as joint-managers by Stuart Lowe and Mark Smith, both formerly successful Buxton players, but finance was still very difficult though Chris Brindley and Brian 'Jasper' Goodwin had by then joined the board. The following summer Mark Smith became sole manager, with a mixture of local players and newcomers but 'the Bucks' still struggled in the NCEL. In October 2001, Barry resigned as chairman, director and licensee of the Social Club, the latter just one of his several responsibilities, and was succeeded in that role by Chris. Only later was it realised that BFC had 'turned the corner' and was on the way back to better times.
Needless to say, Barry remained a devoted supporter and also a Mega Bucks agent based at the local RBL branch until it closed.
May Barry rest in peace.
Comments