William Brazil, local businessman and mainstay of the Reserves from 1955 until 1959 (including a few appearances for Jimmy Blair’s 1st XI, the 1956/57 squad photo of which provided the image shown), was taken ill last Sunday and passed away on Wednesday 7 June aged 89 yrs.

I’m sure many supporters and old players will recall Bill, who was quite a character and normally played centre-half or right-back, and one fan has told me about Bill and John Chase (who progressed as a striker from the Stiffs to the 1st XI) having a snowball fight before the match on Boxing Day 1956 against Deal.

Details of the funeral have yet to be announced, and our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends. Rest in Peace.