TONY 'WOODY' WOOD

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If You Would Like To Pay Tribute To Tony 

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

I will make sure Tony's family see all your tributes.

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Mike Bowman - The word ‘Legend’ is often over used but in this case entirely appropriate. You were quite simply the best bloke I ever had the privilege to meet and it was an honour to call you my best friend.

My condolences go to his parents, Michael and Christine, his brothers Richard, Matthew and Robert and to all his friends. As your friend I will miss you forever but the club will miss you as much. People say that no one is bigger than the club but in your case it may be wrong. You were universally respected by young and old and helped make our wonderful club great. Let’s use your memory to make it greater still. Your legacy and that of Tony Woodhouse should live on.

I will miss our nights in the club and our time together talking rubbish, reminiscing about the good times, discussing the future and putting the world to rights over a beer or 10 while you ate the left over tea!

Now you have gone who will back me up that we played in the first team, me a change bowler and you as wicket keeper, and underrated at that. Those were the days when we turned up at quarter to two for the firsts, set the spread, went and got ice cream and chunky kit kats then departed to the bar…..  then maybe play some cricket.

Si Dixon said in his moving tribute, 9 of his top 10 memories would include you; well my best 100 memories include you and more good times and stories then I could ever tell.

hope you have found a better place where the runs and catches are easy, the beer is free, Lambretta’s don’t break down and Norwich always beat the scum.

Gone but never forgotten your friend for ever. Ladies and Gentleman raise your glass……. THE GENERAL. 

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Tom Huxley - Woody... A true legend... Hythe and Dibden cricket club will be lost without your guidance, charisma, fun and games... Friends will be lost without your smile, jokes, support and patience... Jonjo will be lost without your banter, guidance and stories... This has come as a great shock to all... You've been a great man to many people over the years... You will be greatly missed... I can now only aspire to your true trainer collection... One day I will have one to make you proud... Thank you for everything woody... It's been a true honour knowing you... You will be greatly missed. R.I.P.

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The Spin Wizzard John Clarke - I am as shocked to hear such tragic news. I would like to say:-   Woody a big character, With a big heart I am sure that our loss is someone elses gain. RIP my friend

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John Church - Chairman Fawley CC - I have known Woody for many years from the time he played in goals for the Nelson on a Sunday morning, Always enjoy talking football with him especially as Norwich more often than not were in the side league as Millwall.   Really top bloke and such sad news. Please pass on my condolences to all from me and everyone at Fawley.  

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Matt Maiden - Club Captain Cadnam CC - Really sad to hear of the untimely sad loss of Tony your Chairman. Having suffered a similar tragic loss earlier this season, I can understand how tough this can be for the club and his family and friends. Please pass on the thoughts of all at cadnam cricket club to your club members and his family.

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Rick How - Secretary Sway CC - Very sorry to hear of you sad untimely loss of Tony, our thoughts are with his family and all his friends.

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Russell Moore - Devastated at the loss of Tony Wood. I cant believe such a truly nice guy has been taken from us.

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Jonjo Stovell - saddened by the loss of a lovely bloke Tony Wood, the Chairman. Who will forever be remembered by those that loved him.

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Dawn Cunningham - I can’t find the words to express how saddened I am by the loss of such a dear friend, Woody. He leaves a massive hole in our heart but thankfully a life time of memories. A remarkable and truly wonderful person who will never be forgotten.

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Simon Dixon - Shocked and greatly saddened by the passing of Woody.  Sometimes, things happen which leave everyone speechless and numb, and I think its no exaggeration to say that everyone who knew Tone has had these feelings the past couple of days.  Words will never justify how much he meant to us all, or the hole which his passing has left in each one of our lives.  Our thoughts go to Tony’s Mum, Dad and family.  Thank you for giving us Tony, a truly truly wonderful man.  So many happy funny times, too many to mention, which im sure we will recollect in future times.  Of the ten most memorable moments in my life, Woody was part of 9 of them (provided he didn’t have anything to do with the birth of my daughter – in which case it would be all ten!). We have been blessed and honoured to know him.  To Woody – I ll always wear adidas for you, I ll see if I can get some sambas in Norwich colours. Everyone raise a glass to the General.

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Aleksey Girilovich - Tony's friend from Belarus. Maybe you know about us - Woody visited us several times. As soon as I get sms about his death I try to find any information and remember about cricket club.

Sorry for my non-native English, but I'm also wish to public few kind words: - Antony, you are fantastic person. You shared your happiness with everybody around. Your motivation, your smile and support truly made happy me, my wife and little Svetlana. You have shown to us big part of wonderfull world and you shown to us another life with another vital sense we never has. I never can repay you. 

Everything around reminds me of you - from daughter's toys to Photo Frames at wall. And I cry when look to it. But I know - I'm doing wrong, because in your style enjoy to life anytime. I'm so sorry - Sleep well. - Aleksey, Tatiana and little Svetlana

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Kev Glass - dear woody..although ive not seen you for a few months i was saddened to hear the news over the weekend..visiting jones lane will never be the same without hearing your voice or seeing your big smile..the last time i saw you at lym rec at an indoor league match..i heard the usual banter especially as the canaries had beaten the rams the day before..the day norwich were promoted i was wondering where you were and knew you would be celebrating in typical woody fashion...will miss you lots mate..you were one in a million fella...there is only one woody..take care fella

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Tony & Jane North - We're still trying to come to terms that your not here ! We are so shocked ! You were a great guy and we will miss you greatly. No one has had an influende on Hythe & Dibden Cricket Club as you have. You have always managed to maintain a great sense of fun but also obtain so much respect from everyone.

We are so glad to have known you and we will remember you always with great fondness. Rest in peace mate from Tony, Jane & Emma North xx

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Kevin, Elaine James and family - My family and I would like to give our best wishes in this time of sorrow to Woody's Family. They can be very proud and pleased with the fact he lived his life to the full and touched so many along the way. His friend also - he had so many friends and contributed to so much, in fact he must have left memories of 3 people's lives or more! He was such a big impact and character. We are very proud to have known and befriended him. Though his stay with us was cut short, his memory will live long!!

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Ian & Sarah Prentice - Shocked and saddened as much as everyone by Woody's passing. I only arrived at Hythe a few years ago but was accepted into Tony's life with open arms, always having time for a word and always good company it's hard to imagine Hythe cricket without him.

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Jon Weall - It was of great sadness when I heard of this tragic loss of life whilst on holiday. When I joined the club in 2008, instantly Woody was a man that you felt you had known for years. He was one of the most positive and jovial characters I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Woody was always willing to do any job for the club no matter how big or small for the benefit of others, a true gentleman. The way he encouraged everyone, particularly the younger members of the club to develop and enjoy themselves was first class.

A true legend and both the club and world will be a worse place without you.

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Sue Froggett - Firstly my condolences to Tony's family - I can't begin to imagine what the last few days have been like for them. It is impossible to sum up the shock and sadness I feel at Woody's sudden passing, we've all lost a friend, an entertainer and an inspiration. Woody always struck me as a person who really did live life to the full and threw himself whole-heartedly into whatever he was doing - whether it was cricket, a scooter rally, a trip abroad, a football match - there was always a great story to tell at the end of it. When he was around the club he was always guaranteed to say or do something to make you smile - there was never a dull moment with him around. I'm particularly going to miss our 'weight watchers' conversations and our tales of diet battles - these normally took place over the remnants of a cricket tea - trying to decide which sandwich or cake to try!

I'm also grateful for the fact that he fully embraced the idea of colts moving into adult cricket through the 3rd team - and gave them his advice and support, they benefited immensely from this and have continued to grow in confidence.RIP Woody - I'll leave the final word to Nathan who, on hearing the news from Richard said - "Mum, its not right .... that's just not right".

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Richie Froggett - You could live for 5 lifetimes and i doubt you will meet anybody like Tony Wood again. It was an absolute pleasure knowing him and being able to call him a friend. Fun loving, and full of life it was totally unfair to be taken from us at such an early age. ( its always the good ones). He was one of a kind. We joined H&DCC together many moons ago, so for me the club will never be the same again there will always be someone missing. The " real Hythe and Dibden" members are now just a few and missing their staunchest supporter. He will be sadly be missed, but never forgotton, it would be impossible to do so.

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Julian Chalmers - In 2010 I was training for the London Marathon when this message appeared on my sponsorship page......... "18.04.10 Good Luck Julian, I have attended 4 London Marathons cheering on my father in the 90's, so I am fully aware of just what an amazing event it is, Have a great Day, Best wishes, Tony Wood. Hythe & Dibden Cricket Club. 100 pounds"

I was immediately touched by the generosity of the gesture bearing in mind I didn't actually know who Tony Wood was at that time! So I asked Chiv who I recall described Tony as 'the big jovial, larger than life chap who is the Club Chairman - you can't miss him' Never a more true word I thought when I finally tracked him down to thank him listening to  his fond memories of watching his father run those many times previously....... Thereafter Woody would always take time to stop, chat, take an interest in how Kieran was doing and ask when he was gonna turn out for the Saturday teams...  I then wrote to Woody as Club Chairman last summer about ideas to do with Colts Cricket, Tony's response as follows: I believe this is an excellent idea and I will forward this idea to the correct people.I think it is important in the Colts sections to encourage the players with a positive attitude and not just the highest average. I like the concept of the young Lads having to vote on their choice of best player, one I am 100% behind. I will aim to keep you updated on this issue, Many thanks, Tony Wood.

Now for those who have been around cricket will know that it can take "decades" to make changes in cricket but not for Woody.....to be honest he didn't keep me updated and I forgot all about it BUT I realised on presentation evening this year that he didn't need to update me as he'd just gone ahead and already made all the changes happen one way or another. It showed that not only was Woody interested in the Colts but he had a positive get things done attitude for the Cricket Club that he undoubtedly loved and cherished along with all those in it. He's gone from us far too soon but the big smile will live forever in our memories. Tony Wood a great example to us all and forever part of Hythe and Dibden history.... Keep smiling Tony!   

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Adrian, Tina, Sam & James Page - We only knew him as - “Woody”

The first time we met him we thought what a great guy.

He was a true inspiration to James He recently said he was his role model at work and at the club.

My family are all devastated by his passing and he will always be in our thoughts.

He is certainly a Man that had a Massive character that always made you laugh.

A Son to be proud of - Please accept our sincere condolences

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Wayne Harvey Hythe & Dibden F.C Manager - Hythe & Dibden F.C would like to send our condolences to 'Woodys' family.  I was shocked to hear the news of Woody over the weekend he was a larger than life charecter who will be sadly missed by all who knew him.  I have known him for many years since playing football with him for The Lord Nelson ( and what a goal keeper he was) R.I.P Woody.