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A 'legend' who dedicated his life to local football - tributes paid to Eric Hand
A football pioneer once regarded as a pariah who became a leading and widely respected administrator in the game has died.
Former Hertfordshire FA chairman and honorary life past president Eric Hand passed away in Watford General Hospital yesterday (Tuesday) at the age of 97.
Although not the sole founder, Eric is regarded as the driving force behind the creation of the Watford Sunday League in the first decade after the Second World War at a time when the Lord’s Day Observance Society held sway and even a kick-around in the park was frowned upon.
The late president of the Watford Sunday League Denis Jackson presents Eric with a salver to commemorate the 60th anniversary of its launch in 2015 (Image: Newsquest)
“Football supporters use the term ‘legend’ to describe a footballing great. Although my Uncle Eric never played, he was undoubtedly a football legend,” his nephew Mike Kennedy said.
“Anyone currently playing football on Sundays has Eric to thank as he founded the Watford Sunday League. A chairman of the Hertfordshire FA, a former vice president of Watford FC, and season ticket holder until four years ago, his knowledge and understanding of the great game was amazing.
“Although he lived until the age of 97, his sudden and unexpected passing will come as a huge shock to all his friends and family.
“Rest in peace Uncle Eric, doubtless you'll be discussing Watford's current form with GT and Oliver Phillips in Hornet Heaven.”
Eric at the Watford Sunday League's presentation evening in 2022 (Image: Supplied)
Eric, who lived in Bushey Mill Lane, was born in Southwark, London, the son of a painter and decorator. One of four children, the family lived in Essex before moving to Orchard Crescent, Watford, off Horseshoe Lane.
He was a pupil at Callowland Infants and Leggatts Way schools and joined the Army in March 1945. He was drafted into the transport section where he drove for officers in Bury St Edmunds and Bedford.
After being demobbed in 1948, he joined Ellams Duplicating Company and it was there that he helped form a football club and his journey into Sunday football began.
Eric moved to Odhams in 1956 and remained there until 1980, becoming magazines distribution manager in 1973. He then moved to Mortimers, in Apsley, in a similar role, was promoted to operations director in 1983 before retiring in 1992.
Eric and his wife Una at Wembley in 2019 (Image: Family collection)
Having launched the Watford Sunday League, Eric first became involved with the county FA in 1964.
He became chairman of the divisional disciplinary committee, was made a vice-president in 1979, became association chairman ten years later and serving on a steering committee that formed the South-West Herts FA, bringing senior and youth football together under one umbrella.
Reflecting on his time with the Herts FA in an interview with this newspaper in 2005, Eric said: “The biggest achievement, as part of a three-man committee, was moving the county FA from a voluntary organisation to a limited company, with its own headquarters and ground and base for coaching facilities at Letchworth.”
Watford Sunday League chairman John Rowbotham said: “Everyone who plays or has played in the Watford Sunday Football League owes a debt of gratitude to Eric Hand who, through his determination, established this league in 1955 when I understand that due to religious controls, it was not possible to play any organised sport on a Sunday.
“Despite his inauspicious start Eric Hand rose to take the top position at the Herts FA, our controlling body, and continued to promote his passion for football whilst remaining proud of his league’s high standing in the county.
The Watford Sunday League Challenge Cup is named after Eric. He presents the trophy to North Watford in 2022 (Image: Len Kerswil)
“He encouraged me to take over as chairman of the league when the opportunity arose and was always available to provide some advice or words of wisdom, a stickler for the rules but always fair in his approach.
“Eric dedicated his life to local football and will be sadly missed by the league, particularly following on so close to the loss of fellow committee members Peter Drum and Brian Stedman.”
“There are very few who could match Eric in terms of their impact on the game in Hertfordshire," said Hertfordshire FA CEO Karl Lingham. "His pioneering efforts to establish Sunday football created opportunities for generations of players in the county and his legacy continues to be felt to this day."
The Watford Observer’s former assistant editor, the late Oliver Phillips, wrote in 2015: “Eric should have been nominated for New Year’s Honours for his services to the game locally and at county level. Locally we lived a better life thanks to Eric’s pioneering.”
Eric is survived by his wife Una. They had no children but he has a number of nephews and nieces.
