It is with great sadness we share the news that a former Maidenbower Colts FC Coach, Adrian Theobald, recently passed away, loosing a valiant battle with a long term illness.
Most people will remember Adrian as Theo.
Theo started Coaching with Alex Gillott and together they coached the Maidenbower Colts Red Team in 2012, and continued through until the end of the 2017 season. Both regularly giving up their free time at weekends for training sessions and matches at Broadfield 3G pitches.
Theo loved Coaching, loved his team and loved heaping praise, encouragement, advice and guidance at every game and training session.
As the team expanded, they continued with this ethos of being empathic and supportive, reflected in the fact that they have remained firmly together for almost ten years. Theo was immensely proud of them all.
Theo loved football. He loved talking about it (to anyone who would listen!); he loved watching it, (an avid supporter of Crawley Town FC and his beloved Liverpool) and he loved playing it himself.
Although Theo had a decent skillset he was quickly surpassed by his son, Sammy, the footballing demi-god! From the time he could walk Sammy was never seen without a ball of some description in his hands or at his feet.
To all who knew Theo, he was a great man, loving Husband and Father to two wonderful children. Theo was extremely proud of both his son and daughter. He was a kind and caring man with a beautiful family.
Although he lived with an illness for many years, Theo never let this affect his joy for life. Theo never once griped about his situation, or complained about the unfairness of it all. He never once displayed his obvious suffering outwardly, but remained buoyant, optimistic and hopeful. In fact if you didn’t know him well, you wouldn’t even be aware of his circumstances. He was incredibly brave and courageous, resilient, and strong. Theo remained this way right unto the very end. This strength of character is who he was. It is also what heroes are made of.
Maidenbower Colts FC wish to honour Theo’s memory, strength and courage and in the near future the club will announce our plans of how we will shall do this.
Everyone involved with Maidenbower Colts FC wish to pass on our deepest condolences to Theo’s Wife, children and family for the loss of a great man.
He will be missed by everyone who knew him.
Rest in peace Theo.
