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Mick Belson: A great bloke and a fine keeper
Tributes have poured in for 'Mr Sunday Morning Football' Mick Belson.
Tributes have poured in for 'Mr Sunday Morning Football' Mick Belson.Mick, a great goalkeeper and much-loved manager, died at the age of 57 on Sunday morning following a year-long battle against a brain tumour.
He was brilliant between the sticks during a long playing career for Dogsthorpe Boys Club, Focus, Baker Perkins and Travis & Arnold. He has a collection of countless trophies which includes honours for being the best indoor keeper in the old Wirrina Five-a-side League for seven successive seasons.
Mick only called time on his playing days after suffering a stroke 11 years ago, but he made a full recovery and went on to enjoy great success in management with the Nags Head team.
They won two Premier Division titles in the Peterborough Sunday Morning League, three PFA Senior Cup crowns and lifted the Hereward Cup on three occasions.
Current Peterborough Sunday Morning League chairman Fred Johnson said: "I'm very sorry to hear of Mick's passing. He was a great servant to Sunday morning football for a lot of years.
"You could say he was 'Mr Sunday Football' and he will be missed greatly."
Speaking of behalf of that famous Nags Head side, former player Joe Bailey said: "Mick was not just our football manager - he was also a great friend. Mick was a great man who will be dearly missed by all."
After stepping aside from the Nags Head hot-seat, Mick had three years working alongside Sean Hamill at FC Bauer.
Hamill said: "Myself and Raph Frascogna went to see him on Saturday after his son Michael had got in touch to say the doctors thought he only had a few days left.
"We were both grateful to see him one last time. Mick was non-responsive but he looked comfortable. Knowing Mick I'm sure he was listening to what we were saying and I'm sure he would have a wry smile seeing us bottom of the league!
"Mick was a big Wolves fan and we managed to persuade them to donate him a signed shirt which I know he absolutely loved.
"I approached him to get him back into football by joining us while he was watching a game - and I'm so glad I did.
"All of our lads got something out of having him at the club and he was a joy to be around."
Nags Head stalwart Steve Starkey - now the manager of Premier Division side SSPIO - said: "Mick hasn't been around on the scene for a while due to being ill, but he'll never be forgotten."
Belson's involvement in Saturday football was only fleeting, but he did spend three seasons helping out Gino Agius at the now-defunct Perkins club.
Agius said: "You will not find a single person around here with a bad word to say about Mick - and that goes to show what a great bloke he was. He will be sorely missed."
Agius is involved in the organising of a 'Mick Belson Cup' charity event set to take place around the end of the season.
He added: "We did something on the spur of the moment last summer and raised 300 for charity. This year I want to treble that at least."
Mick wasn't just a football man. He also played rugby for Westwood and Baker Perkins - the company he worked for throughout his adult life until being made redundant in October, 2008.
Mick leaves a widow, Jean, and three children - son Michael and daughters Sarah and Chrissy. He also has three grandchildren.
His funeral is on Friday, March 5, at 11am at St Peter and All Souls Church in Geneva Street, Peterborough. It will be followed by cremation.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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