St.Johns Church, Hythe  was packed with over 120 people for the funeral of Mr.Hythe & Dibden - Tony Woodhouse.

Family and close Friends were joined by members of the Hythe & Dibden Cricket and Football Clubs past and present as well as representatives of local clubs - Fawley, Cadnam and Lymington.

A Celebration of Tony's wonderful life was then held at the Waterside Social Club (Esso). Donations can still be made to Tenovus and Hampshire & I.O.W. Air Ambulance in memory of Tony, if desired, please send to R. Hallum Funeralcare, 185 Long Lane, Holbury, Southampton, SO45 2PA.

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65 YEARS - FOOTBALL & CRICKET - ONE CLUB

This week both the Football and Cricket Section share in the sadness of the untimely loss of Mr.Hythe & Dibden - Tony Woodhouse aged 85. Our thoughts firstly go out to Mary, and his family. 

A true one club person Tony was associated with the football and cricket at Hythe for over 65 years.

His committment and passion for our club will surely never be surpassed.

Tony first played cricket for Hythe back in 1947 when his father in law (Walt Bell) who was captain of the Second XI at the time, asked Tony to fill in when a player dropped out last minute. Tony had no intentions of playing cricket at the time but the bug quickly caught on especially when you marry into a cricketing family.

His first game was against HMS Dilligence down at Shore Road on a cut out pitch used in the winter for football. Tony recalls that their were more injuries than runs at the time caused by the Shore Road pitch.

Tony played for the First XI on several occasions during the fifties even keeping wicket for one game. Though once was enough especially to the pace bowling of Phil Pick and Harry May.

During the sixties he captained the Second XI and in the seventies he vice captained to Alan Wiltshire on both Saturdays and Sundays. Alan Wiltshire described Woodhouse as the backbone of the Second XI for almost three decades.

The side in the seventies included Wiltshire, Woodhouse, one more adult and eight colts. Needless to say we were well beaten on many occasions yet Tony never complained. He use to bowl his slowies, chuck them up in the air and if the batsman connected then the colts got very good fielding practice.

By the eigthties he captained the Third XI for a few seasons in the Parks League and kept the Sunday Second XI going for many years after Alan Wiltshire retired. One game that will always stick out was against Vospers in the Parks League. Hythe batted first scoring 147 all out. At the half way stage with Tony bowled out 6 for 13, Fords were 28 for 9 with 4 of the side showered and gone home. Yet Hythe still managed to lose the game.

In 1992 Tony handed over the captaincy to Tony North but continued as vice captain and played on until 1999 when at 74 his body could take no more. Tony described those years as his most enjoyable with a great family unity in the Sunday Second XI. Despite his age Northy always said Tonys was the first name down on the team sheet every week.

When his playing days were over Tony umpired for a number of years then looked after his proud clubhouse on match days behind the bar.

As a player Tony was a self taught spinner and over the years got many wickets. His highest score as a batsman was 86 against East Tytherley. He said he enjoyed playing at Tytherley because of it being a small ground and sixes were easier to hit. Tony was happy to go in at number 11 and on many occasions hit the side out of trouble.

He also became a very good slip fielder and thanked Phil Pick for that. Tony says during the sixties he tried his hardest to get out of the slips but Picky kept putting him back in there. But it was as a bowler that Tony used to curse his opponents. He once claimed all 10 wickets against Purbrook & Portsdown ( though we could never find the scorebook). He also claimed 8 wkts in a innings on 5 occasions - 7 wkts on 12 occasions and 5 for's on over thirty occasions during his long career. In 1997 at the young age of 72 Tony still topped the Sunday bowling averages at 16.2 - taking 14 wickets in the process.

His worst moment he said was during the 60's - Tony said over at Flamingoes he tried to hit a ball out of the ground and it struck the end of his bat into his mouth. Mary walked him around Eastleigh on a Sunday trying to find a doctor and afterwards he couldn't understand why no one offered to take him straight to A&E.When Tony returned to the ground some hours later he'd ended up having 5 stitches in his mouth.

His love and passion for the club continued right up until he sadly passed away. Only last   week I dropped round to give him this years cricket fixtures. His enthusiasm for the coming season was as strong as ever. This Monday however he was taken into hospital. Steve Hurst - Tonys son in law said one of his final instructions before leaving for hospital was to his daughter - 'Tell Steve all the clubs books are upto date'. A true clubman right to the end.

God bless a true gentleman - Tony Woodhouse - and thankyou

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I have received several Tributes To Tony and they will be on another page on the front page

If you would like to pay your tribute 

e.mail me - Steve Chiv - chiv.com@virgin.net and I will put it on for you.

I will pass all your tributes onto Mary and the family next week.