President will be mourned by many

30 Jul 2016 By David Watters

EVO-STIK League Southern Uxbridge are mourning the loss of their long-standing president Alan Odell.

Saddened officials at the EVO-STIK League Southern Division One Central club say the former keeper and well known and respected football administrator passed away this week aged 92.

Appointed as a member of staff at the Football Association in 1963, Mr Odell became international secretary in 1966 and went on to travel the world with Sir Alf Ramsey and England's World Cup winners before retiring from the FA in 1989.

His Uxbridge roots went back to his childhood and seeing his first Uxbridge game at the age of eight with his father. The club's president since 1987, as a player he turned out for Old Uxonians, Uxbridge FC and Fulham. In 1953 he joined the club's committee as secretary, a post he held for the next 10 years before being elected as a life vice-president in 1963.

The late Uxbridge president with former England manager Terry Venables

Elected to the Council of Middlesex County Football Association in 1961, he was made a vice-president in 1980 and was the Middlesex representative on the FA Council from 1989 until 1997.

A Middlesex Wanderer for over 37 years and a vice-president, he had been a member of the club’s executive committee since 1975. In 1993 he was also elected executive president of Middlesex County Football Association.

In a statement paying tribute to the football stalwart, the club said: "It with great sadness that we announce the passing of our long standing president Alan Odell at the age of 92 years. He will be sadly missed by all at Uxbridge FC and the wider footballing family.

"Whilst being unable to attend all Uxbridge FC matches our Secretary Roger Stevens and Chairman Alan Holloway always contacted him with half-time and full-time reports.

"Alan was always knowledgeable and approachable; his service to the game we all love was second to none. Alan was one of life’s nice guys; they certainly broke the mould when they made him. Our thoughts go to his family at this sad time."

The Reds are hosting a celebration of Mr Odell's life following his funeral service at 2pm on Wednesday 10 August in the East Chapel at the Breakspear Crematorium in Ruislip.

Image courtesy of Uxbridge

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