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Just heard the sad news that David Kilpatrick has passed away.
A huge figure in the history of our club, and he will long be remembered as one of the 'Overcoat Men' who went above and beyond to save and revive the club.
Rest in Peace.
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David Kilpatrick on 15:44 - Sep 22 with 5207 views
What a truly great man, who gave so much to this football club.
Always had time for a chat, always acknowledged with a smile and nod.
Fantastically devilish sense of humour and a collosus in any room.
Of the many memories, the last one was his encouragement of my questioning at the AGM - "keep at him lad, he's trying to bullshit you. You've spotted a post-balance sheet event and hes tying himself up in knots now."
Such a great raconteur. He used to hold court in various watering holes and have his audience spellbound. Joe Royle was another big mate of his and I remember the pair of them telling a series of fascinating anecdotes one night. Just look around Spotland now and the state of the ground compared to 1980. That is his lasting legacy. RIP to a great man.
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David Kilpatrick on 17:09 - Sep 22 with 5054 views
A giant of a man, only dwarfed by his own hugely positive impact on this football club. The fact that we can refer to the football club in the present tense, not past, is thanks to 'Mr Chairman'.
RIP Killy. A true Dale legend who will always be remembered fondly and with the utmost respect.
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David Kilpatrick on 18:42 - Sep 22 with 4906 views
I got to know Killy through being involved in things like EGP and TVOS and then later in The Sun Hotel at Littleborough, where he was often seen holding court at the bar.
I remember one Sunday evening in 2008 chatting to him about Parkin and how well Hull had started in the Premier League.
"They've got Chelsea at home on Wednesday," I said. "That'll be a tough one."
"Do you fancy going?" he asked. "I'll ring Parkin now."
And so he did ring Parkin at 10pm on a Sunday evening, to reserve a couple of seats.
I felt like royalty travelling across the M62 in the front seat of his Jag. Throughout the journey he was taking phone calls about marble in India and his racehorse (maybe racehorses). It was like another world to me.
We duly got to the KC Stadium and after charming his way into the car park (Parkin had forgotten about that), we made our way to the posh seats, where I found myself sat next to Frank Lampard Senior, whose son was in the Chelsea team
Suddenly, Mr Lampard saw who was on the other side of me and engaged in a long conversation with Killy about football and racehorses.
It was a measure of the esteem with which he was held throughout football that someone who was such a high profile player in the 70s and 80s not only knew Killy, but was happy to spend time chatting with him like a long lost friend.
At half-time, we bumped into Richard Jobson in the bar and again, Killy struck up a long conversation with someone he hadn't seen for a few years.
In later years, I regularly saw David driving around Littleborough and he would always give me a wave, akin to the royal wave by her majesty.
Times must have been hard, though, as he had started shopping at Lidl!
He also rang me once when Brian Greenhoff had released his autobiography.
"I need you to check a few things he's said about his time at Rochdale before I decide if I'm going to sue him," he said, in rather more caustic language than that!
One story to finish. At around 5.30pm one evening, my mobile rang and it was Killy. He wanted the number of , Trevor, a fellow Dale fan and acquaintance from The Sun.
"How come you want it, David?" I asked.
"I've just given him a lift home from the Co-op, but he's taken my shopping and I've got his," he said, with a few expletives thrown in.
Maybe that's why he moved to Lidl!
Others will have countless tales to tell, but what a great bloke, a natural comedian, someone with genuine interest in the fans and one of those who ensured we were still around for nights like last night.
RIP Killy, you're a legend
That’s a brilliant few tales there. Really sad news today. I met him a few times as a kid, he even dropped my mum off once and came in for a brew, I was kind of star struck. But one time that sticks out most for me was just before my 13th birthday, my mum had managed to get 2 tickets for the FA Cup Final, as it landed on my birthday, they were via DK. I can’t exactly remember why, but my mum and I were sat in the Ratcliffe Function Suite around a table with DK and others. He was going on about these other tickets that he had, costing £45 and right next to the Royal Box. He had them with him in an brown envelope. My mum asked/pleaded with him to exchange our £12 tickets for a pair of these vip ones he had. I was praying that he would, and he did! ‘What a guy’ I thought, he just made this young lads year. And what tickets they were, you could touch the players as they went up for the trophy. I’ll never forget that day and how I got the tickets. Cheers DK and RIP.
One of my memories is in a similar vein to a previous anecdote. During a fans’ forum one questioner grumpily asked where all the Reeves transfer money had gone. Without pause Killy answered that all the directors had bought themselves Bentleys. He was a pleasure to be around, no airs and graces and would give anyone the time of day. Very sad loss.
The worm of time turns not for the cuckoo of circumstance.
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David Kilpatrick on 21:03 - Sep 23 with 4008 views
I never met Mr Kilpatrick but remember as a young lad looking up in awe at this giant bloke when he came to speak to supporters in the Sandy that year when there was a sit down protest regarding the club giving the stand away to Burnley when they were due to visit.
R17 once told me a funny story about a reply to moggy he made about being born in the Sandy Lane but he tells a better story than I do.
RIP
Aye Kel,
I cannot remember the year but a group of fans were called into the lounge to give opinions on the future of The Sandy. It's be about 1995ish.
The meeting was gatecrashed by Moggy who occasionally would pipe up with the old song "I was born in the Sandy Lane."
Moggy made the mistake of singing it whilst Killie was speaking.
Quick as a flash Killie rebuked Moggy with the immortal line....
"you weren't born in the Sandy Lane Moggy, you were born in fooking Birch Hill like everyone else in this room!"
I cannot remember the year but a group of fans were called into the lounge to give opinions on the future of The Sandy. It's be about 1995ish.
The meeting was gatecrashed by Moggy who occasionally would pipe up with the old song "I was born in the Sandy Lane."
Moggy made the mistake of singing it whilst Killie was speaking.
Quick as a flash Killie rebuked Moggy with the immortal line....
"you weren't born in the Sandy Lane Moggy, you were born in fooking Birch Hill like everyone else in this room!"
We didn't hear from Moggy again that evening!
It could have been in January 1994, not long before Preston were due at Spotland.
The capacity of Sandy Lane was going to be greatly reduced for PNE's visit, so the club asked if we would move to Pearl Street for the previous home game v Torquay in order for them to carry out work installing extra barriers, thereby avoiding the reduction into capacity.
Fans were happy to move - even Chaff - especially when Dale won 4-1.
We beat Preston as well!
When I was your age, I used to enjoy the odd game of tennis. Or was it golf?
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David Kilpatrick on 13:30 - Sep 24 with 3696 views
It could have been in January 1994, not long before Preston were due at Spotland.
The capacity of Sandy Lane was going to be greatly reduced for PNE's visit, so the club asked if we would move to Pearl Street for the previous home game v Torquay in order for them to carry out work installing extra barriers, thereby avoiding the reduction into capacity.
Fans were happy to move - even Chaff - especially when Dale won 4-1.
We beat Preston as well!
Well remembered! That's precisely what happened. Killie didn't want to upset regular Sandy Laners so he called about 15 of us upstairs for a chat to ask if we'd mind moving to Pearl Street for one match.
His sales pitch was something along the lines of we can raise the capacity from 750 to 1850 with new crush barriers and a new exit gate at the Willbutts End. Jim Marsh says he'll give us £20,000 of steel, but the workmen need to work through the weekend to finish it in time for the Preston match. Will you move for just one game?
So, the next time you lean on a barrier in the Sandy, just remember the sacrifices the fans made all those years ago!
It's also worth remembering that Killie was someone who really communicated with supporters. No unanswered emails, no platitudes that we must communicate better, and so on!
Does anyone else recall the testimonial match that the Club had for the great late Tom Nichol? What a nice guy and he was a real servant to the Club. As Chairman of the Club Killie was invited to kick off the match. Out to the centre circle hobbled Killie, possibly as a result of wearing his boots on the wrong feet, and sporting what appeared to be a pair of faded ex World Wart Royal Navy shorts. He duly kicked off and then the game was held up whilst he hobbled off back to the touchline. He got a good cheer!
Saturday January 2005, the day of Charlton v Dale in the FA Cup. Mrs BigKindo and I went to London the day before by Virgin Train. As a post Christmas treat we opted to travel first class. The carriage was sparsely occupied but fellow Dale supporter Robin Matthieson was also present. Suddenly the connecting door from the next carriage opened and in strode Killie in the midst of call on his mobile. He stopped speaking, looked around and saw the three Daleys. He recommenced the call with, ‘You’re not going to believe this. I’ve walked into first class and find myself in the midst of Dale supporters. **** I’m travelling second class and I’m the b*oody Chairman of the Club! I suppose I had better get back to second class.’ At which point the sliding door reopened and he disappeared back to his seat in second class.
Thanks David. I’ll miss our occasional pre-match chats. RIP
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David Kilpatrick on 15:53 - Sep 24 with 3541 views
I too echo every single sentiment on this thread. Killy was a big guy with a big personality. Always had the time for anybody and everybody. Somebody said on this thread he was the best chairman this club has ever had, I think I have to agree with that.
My condolences to his family and friends.
RIP DK and thanks for all you did for our beloved club.
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David Kilpatrick on 18:34 - Sep 25 with 2915 views
David Kilpatrick on 17:57 - Sep 27 by BuckTheTrend
"They believed". (Greenhill classical education .
Imperfect rather than perfect so more 'they were believing ' or 'they used to believe'. Seems an odd tense to use to me. A bit esoteric if you do not know Latin, though.
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David Kilpatrick on 20:03 - Sep 27 with 2035 views
David Kilpatrick on 17:57 - Sep 27 by BuckTheTrend
"They believed". (Greenhill classical education .
I get that, but it still doesn't seem to compute somehow. Anyhow, I didn't continue with my Latin studies at Greenhill, so I will defer to your superior classical knowledge.
“It is easier to fool people, than to convince them that they have been fooledâ€
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David Kilpatrick on 20:24 - Sep 27 with 2006 views
Imperfect rather than perfect so more 'they were believing ' or 'they used to believe'. Seems an odd tense to use to me. A bit esoteric if you do not know Latin, though.
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