A sad day yesterday, but also heart-warming to know so many turned out at the ground and Crematorium.
Barry and Gill made it a lovely service for Barrie with a real insight into the family man that he was.
I am eternally grateful for all the help, encouragement and opportunities he gave to me in my time at the Football Club from when I was 15 years-old. He was also really kind when I lost both my parents in a 20 month period in 1989 and 1990.
A couple of stories to share.
One he told me was when the club were still a Sunday side and he was playing. The team lost 6-5 to a controversial late goal. As the teams came off he was sent off for swearing at the referee.
Unfortunately he was also the League secretary and the following week had to stand and read out disciplinary cases, including one against B. Hobbins!
The second one was a reserve team home game against Faversham in around 1992.
At half time Welling were winning 5-0. I was standing behind the stand when Barrie came along laughing.
He had just walked past the Faversham dressing room where the door was open. Undeterred by the first half performance he heard their manager rousing his team.
"Boys if we get one back quickly we can get back in the game". As he carried on stirring the troups, Barrie explained one of the players interrupted "Boss! Boss! We haven't had a f***ing kick yet. How are we going to score five goals?".
Nice to read the stories above and one of the best evenings in the meet the manger evenings was a "Meet the Hobbins" night. At least four full scrap books of newspapers cuttings were available going back many years and Barrie looking like a poor mans Barry Fry.
When Graeme was manager they were losing one game 4-0 at half time. As they trundled off the pitch a voice could be heard" you fat Bxxstd", call yourself a manager!, thats a disgraceful performance" etc. Graeme pointed at Barrie and said "it was him!"
He also complained that Barrie always got dinner served first in the Hobbins household
Love the Hobbins stories, keep them coming guys. It's what makes this forum an interesting read and a break from the "Jimmie and Alan show"!!
My small contribution. I travelled to Lincoln City by train for a Conference league match (imagine that!), and bumped into Barrie on the last leg of the journey. We began the walk to the ground until he decided he wanted to stop at the bookies and I never saw him again that day!
Fascinating stories. May Barrie rest in peace. He and the friendly family atmosphere he created around Welling United Football Club is the reason I started following them and have returned season after season. I am pleased to read the funeral went as well as these things can. I know it must have been a hard day for the Hobbins family.
