Hemel Legends - Chris Brookes
A SAD LOSS FOR ALL AT HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN FC
Chris had been involved with local football for over 16 years ever since his eldest son Michael started playing at the age of six, closely followed by his younger sons Colin and Jamie.
Chris, like a lot of parents, started off by helping out with his son’s teams. He became more and more involved, and with his enthusiasm and love for the game, soon started up his own club, “Greenacres”.
It was in 1998, that Chris approached Hemel Hempstead Town Chairman Dave Boggins and, after much discussion, the two sides joined together and Chris Brooks’s Hemel Hempstead Town Youth was born.
In the following years, it was Chris that started developing the Hemel Youth setup, and in 2002 he became Hemel Hempstead Town Youth Vice Chairman. However, in the same year he was asked by other members to take the Chairman’s role, a role which he proudly accepted.
In 2002, HHTYFC consisted of just nine teams, but with Chris’s determination, efforts and guidance, this soon grew to 22 teams. In 2004 the club gained the FA Charter Standard Club award, and soon afterwards also gained the award of FA Charter Club of the year 2006. In 2007 the club were also successful in gaining Development Club Charter status.
In June of this year, HHTYFC were also awarded the Charter Standard Development Club of the year.
Since 2007, Chris instigated the “Hemel Sevens” tournament which annually attracts 220 boys and girls teams making it probably the biggest tournament of its kind in the South of England.
During the 2009/10 season, Chris became acting Chairman of Hemel Hempstead Town Football Club when Dave Boggins had to stand down due to illness. When the Chairman returned the following season, Chris was delighted to be offered the position of Vice Chairman. Chris loved this position and thrived in this role.
Chris not only took an active role in HHTYFC, but also sat on the Hertfordshire Women and Girls football development group. He was also instrumental in setting up the Hertfordshire Girls Football Partnership.
Chris had a vision that one day both the Youth and Senior sections of the club would be one. He hoped that there would be more local men and women representing the town at a senior level. This has been made even more possible for the boys with the introduction of an Under 16’s side playing under the senior section, providing a closer relationship with the Under 18’s and Reserve teams. Chris’s vision has helped towards giving local youngsters a better opportunity of being retained within the club and fulfilling their aspirations of playing football for the senior Hemel Hempstead Town FC side.
Hemel Hempstead Town FC would like to pass on our condolences to Chris’s family, his wife Julia and three sons, Michael, Colin and Jamie. Chris was a gentleman above all and a well loved and respected member of the club.
He was a good friend and a role model to all, and will be very sorely missed by all that knew and met him.
With thanks and love from all on the committee, the staff, the players and the fans.
God bless you Chris, your legacy will continue and live on through Hemel Hempstead Town Football Club.
Chris had been involved with local football for over 16 years ever since his eldest son Michael started playing at the age of six, closely followed by his younger sons Colin and Jamie.
Chris, like a lot of parents, started off by helping out with his son’s teams. He became more and more involved, and with his enthusiasm and love for the game, soon started up his own club, “Greenacres”.
It was in 1998, that Chris approached Hemel Hempstead Town Chairman Dave Boggins and, after much discussion, the two sides joined together and Chris Brooks’s Hemel Hempstead Town Youth was born.
In the following years, it was Chris that started developing the Hemel Youth setup, and in 2002 he became Hemel Hempstead Town Youth Vice Chairman. However, in the same year he was asked by other members to take the Chairman’s role, a role which he proudly accepted.
In 2002, HHTYFC consisted of just nine teams, but with Chris’s determination, efforts and guidance, this soon grew to 22 teams. In 2004 the club gained the FA Charter Standard Club award, and soon afterwards also gained the award of FA Charter Club of the year 2006. In 2007 the club were also successful in gaining Development Club Charter status.
In June of this year, HHTYFC were also awarded the Charter Standard Development Club of the year.
Since 2007, Chris instigated the “Hemel Sevens” tournament which annually attracts 220 boys and girls teams making it probably the biggest tournament of its kind in the South of England.
During the 2009/10 season, Chris became acting Chairman of Hemel Hempstead Town Football Club when Dave Boggins had to stand down due to illness. When the Chairman returned the following season, Chris was delighted to be offered the position of Vice Chairman. Chris loved this position and thrived in this role.
Chris not only took an active role in HHTYFC, but also sat on the Hertfordshire Women and Girls football development group. He was also instrumental in setting up the Hertfordshire Girls Football Partnership.
Chris had a vision that one day both the Youth and Senior sections of the club would be one. He hoped that there would be more local men and women representing the town at a senior level. This has been made even more possible for the boys with the introduction of an Under 16’s side playing under the senior section, providing a closer relationship with the Under 18’s and Reserve teams. Chris’s vision has helped towards giving local youngsters a better opportunity of being retained within the club and fulfilling their aspirations of playing football for the senior Hemel Hempstead Town FC side.
Hemel Hempstead Town FC would like to pass on our condolences to Chris’s family, his wife Julia and three sons, Michael, Colin and Jamie. Chris was a gentleman above all and a well loved and respected member of the club.
He was a good friend and a role model to all, and will be very sorely missed by all that knew and met him.
With thanks and love from all on the committee, the staff, the players and the fans.
God bless you Chris, your legacy will continue and live on through Hemel Hempstead Town Football Club.
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