Willand Rovers pay tribute to club stalwart 'Bacon'
Mike Mares, affectionately known as Bacon to those who knew him had been involved in the club for more than 50 year in many and varied roles
Willand Rovers have paid tribute to a former chairman and honorary vice president of the club.
Mike Mares, affectionately known as Bacon to those who knew him, had been involved in the club for more than 50 year in many and varied roles.
News of his passing broke on Monday, March 8.
A statement from Willand Rovers Football Club said: “He will perhaps be best remembered at the club for establishing the successful bingo sessions that are still held today and in more recent years for steadfastly, and in all weathers, manning the entry gate on matchdays.
“Everyone at the club sends Darren, Mike and the rest of the family our most sincere condolences.
“Mike may have left us, but he will never be forgotten in the history of Willand Rovers. RIP Bacon.”
Chairman of Willand Rovers, Mike Mitchell, said it was ‘a great loss’ for the club.
“He was there at the club when I was still a player and he was always in the background then,” he said.
“He helped Willand Rovers for many years and used to come to games in his three-wheel car. If you had a match, whether it be the first time, reserves, or the youth team, he was there.
“We used to do a bingo every fortnight, and he started that off and kept it going through the years to make a little bit of money for our football club when we were in the Devon and Exeter League.
“When we built out clubhouse in 1987, he was there, and became the guy who made sure all the beer lines were clean in the clubhouse; that was one of his jobs and he did that for years.
“It was go good of him to do it as a volunteer. It was always special for him to do that, and help out.”
When he got older, he volunteered on the turnstiles in all winds and weathers.
Mike said: “I can always remember when we played Exeter City in a cup and Steve Perryman came to watch. Mike didn’t know who he was, and that he was with Exeter and told him ‘I don’t care who you are’ and told him he had to pay his admission fee.
“It’s a great loss for us; he was a top man. I’m hoping we will be able to honour him at the club, possibly with a plaque.”
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