Eddie on the cover of Guildford City’s programme cover

Guildford City Football Club are sorry to announce that our long-time supporter and treasurer Eddie Russell has sadly passed away, aged 72.

The news was received on Wednesday evening as club officials and volunteers assembled for our home match against Ash United. Eddie had been ill for some years managing a long-term condition. He had been a hospital in-patient on and off over the last year or so, but as recently as Monday this week he was at home and writing his match programme contribution for this Saturday.

Guildford City Football Club had always been a major part of Eddie’s life. Aged six his father introduced him to the club taking him to games at Joseph’s Road. When he was 11, he was able to attend matches on his own, and he went on to be part of the Guildford Voices, the singing section of the Guildford crowd.

He travelled on the supporters coaches watching the club all over the south of England. Aged 20 he became secretary, and later treasurer, of the Guildford City FC Supporters’ Social Club. Like others he was devastated at the club’s demise in 1974.

With his local club gone music became a big part of Eddie’s life.  He was the singer in a rock n’ roll covers band Ulterior Motive, and a member of a local folk club where he met his wife Ros.

Eventually football called him back and both Eddie and Ros volunteered at Godalming Town for some nine years undertaking the finance and catering roles respectively.

Not long after Guildford City FC reappeared phoenix-like, playing at the Spectrum, Eddie was there supporting the side. Later both Eddie and Ros joined then City chairmen Shahid Azeem at the club in the treasurer and catering manager roles.

A minutes silence for Eddie was held on Saturday, October 26 before the match against Camberley Town.

Eddie remained treasurer at Guildford City until 2020. He was amazingly good with figures which was a skill he had inherited from his father. Like a human computer he could add up a column of figures far faster than you could key the figures into a calculator.

After he retired from the treasurer role Eddie still maintained a keen interest in the club. Until his illness really took hold, he still attended games and right up to the end he was contributing to both the match programme and the supporter’s forum.

People like Eddie are the bedrock of any club.  People who give generously of their time (and often money) but expect nothing in return other than the wellbeing of the club they love.

Eddie Russell will be much missed at Guildford City Football Club, and we send condolences to his wife Ros and his family and friends including his seven-month-old granddaughter of whom Eddie was very proud.

Rest Easy Eddie!