CLUB STATEMENT - CHAIRMAN GRAHAM HODSON
We are devasted by the news that Chairman Graham Hodson passed away yesterday morning after a short battle with cancer.
There are few words that can be found at this moment to express how much this club owes Graham for the incredible amount of work done to drag the club back up from the doldrums to a place where we can begin to look up instead of down - something barely imaginable ten years ago.
Not only that but grassroots football has lost one of its true and honest servants, one who has been recognised for his hard work in youth football with the Bilston Partnership Youth Football League and his efforts and achievements at Queen Street which were rewarded recently with the Queen's Award for Volunteering being presented to the Steelmen just last month as well as being one of the 150 recognised by the FA just a few years ago.
Graham never pretended to be anyone other than a Black Country lad who loves football and, whilst I am sure many will have been upset by his forthright views along the way, he was a man who never left you wondering what his viewpoint was - and it was never a view that was for his own personal benefit.
The club now has the job to push on and continue the great and selfless work carried out over the years by Graham and ensure that the club reaps the benefits of its continued support from its key partners to deliver the true community club that he envisaged.
Last night's youth team game was postponed as a mark of respect and we expect that Saturday's game at home to Dudley Town will go ahead as planned - more details on that will follow later in the week.
The Hodson family thank you for all your kind wishes during Graham's illness and will be keeping us informed of the arrangements for the funeral in due course - all details will be posted here as soon as we are advised.
RIP Graham - a true Steelman and the heartbeart of the club.
#BilstonTownOneFamily
There are few words that can be found at this moment to express how much this club owes Graham for the incredible amount of work done to drag the club back up from the doldrums to a place where we can begin to look up instead of down - something barely imaginable ten years ago.
Not only that but grassroots football has lost one of its true and honest servants, one who has been recognised for his hard work in youth football with the Bilston Partnership Youth Football League and his efforts and achievements at Queen Street which were rewarded recently with the Queen's Award for Volunteering being presented to the Steelmen just last month as well as being one of the 150 recognised by the FA just a few years ago.
Graham never pretended to be anyone other than a Black Country lad who loves football and, whilst I am sure many will have been upset by his forthright views along the way, he was a man who never left you wondering what his viewpoint was - and it was never a view that was for his own personal benefit.
The club now has the job to push on and continue the great and selfless work carried out over the years by Graham and ensure that the club reaps the benefits of its continued support from its key partners to deliver the true community club that he envisaged.
Last night's youth team game was postponed as a mark of respect and we expect that Saturday's game at home to Dudley Town will go ahead as planned - more details on that will follow later in the week.
The Hodson family thank you for all your kind wishes during Graham's illness and will be keeping us informed of the arrangements for the funeral in due course - all details will be posted here as soon as we are advised.
RIP Graham - a true Steelman and the heartbeart of the club.
#BilstonTownOneFamily