Bob Eales RIP (07/06/1960- 08/11/2023)

We are very sad and shocked to report that we have learnt that our well respected, long term committee colleague Bob Eales passed away suddenly during last Wednesday night at the age of only 63. Bob was an original member of the CCFPA committee and has held many roles in the Association since our foundation in December 2006 including that of Membership Secretary and Welfare Officer. He was always friendly, approachable, loyal and hardworking in all he did.

Bob was a well travelled man having for many years served in the Royal Navy. Bob had worked as an Operations Manager at XPO in the West Midlands since 2018 and prior to that spent a decade as Transport Shift Manager at the Office Depot locally. He sadly passed away after being taken ill on the night shift at his place of work. We send sincere condolences to his sons and a daughter plus his growing number of grand-children all now based on the south coast (whom he visited frequently) as well as the many friends and colleagues he had in the locality.

Bob Eales at centre of members of the CCFPA coach party at Wembley April 2017

Bob was Sky Blue through and through and well known and well loved by all those he came across in the Sky Blue family of fans, former and current players and the like and was a very recognisable figure at our annual set piece ocassions like Legends Day and Golf Day where he became well known and respected by a large number of our Former Player members. Fans will particularly remember Bob marshalling our returning FPs to the Ricoh/CBS centre circle at half-time for the traditional Legends Day 'team photo' and acclamation by supporters.

Bob will be greatly missed by all his fellow members of the CCFPA committee who are fully aware of the great contribution he made to the vitality and development of what has become one of the most popular and active FPAs in the country. We will have more to say about Bob in coming days and weeks on this site and will pass on details of his funeral at which which we are sure many Sky Blue fans will wish to offer their condolences and memories of a really nice man.

RIP Bob

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