The memorial service for Avalon Soccer Club Life Member Les Spencer
A number of the people dad coached have already let me know they plan to attend, and we’d welcome any club members, supporters and players, current and former, who remember dad and would like to join us.
will be held at the Royal MotorYacht Club Newport, at 12.30 on Saturday 11 October.
This will be a short event, celebration of dad’s life and not a funeral or religious service.
From Stephen
My dad, Leslie Spencer, a life member of Avalon Soccer Club, died last Saturday.
Our family moved to Newport in February 1971, and within weeks dad signed up to coach my team – under 8 Division 2 boys.
The following three years we were runners up, and in 1975 moved up to division 1.
In 1977 the 14/1 boys won the major premiership, and in 1979 the 16/1 boys won the minor premiership.
After I moved into senior football dad coached numerous other teams, and in the late 80s was made a life member of the club. I suspect there are hundreds of boys at the club who were coached by him, and just a few years ago some of them were still playing for Avalon in your older age teams.
Dad still came to Careel Bay to watch games until recently, but became too frail in recent years to make it to the ground.
Dad became quite ill a few months back and went downhill rapidly in the last few weeks, but until, then had lived a great life, and Avalon Soccer was an important part of that life.
Could you please let your members know, and I’d be honoured if you shared this Facebook post I did, which features a video of dad’s life including a number of scenes from Avalon Soccer in the 1970s.
Story of Les Spencer on Facebook
I have also placed on YouTube an edited collection of all the videos dad did of Avalon soccer teams he coached in the 1970s.