"Bobs Day" Held At Daisy Hill
Thu 23rd October 2025 | Daisy Hill | By Ian Templeman
Daisy Hill FC President Bob Naylor was honoured at the club's North West Counties League game against Maine Road on Saturday, with a special event to celebrate his 64 years of service to the club.
Bob has been involved at Daisy Hill since the summer of 1961 and held the role of club Secretary continuously for 60 years, until he stepped down from the position in the summer.
To recognise his contribution to the club, one of the stands at the club's Ginge Power Stadium has been named "The Bob Naylor Stand" and the official opening ceremony was organised alongside a special "Bob Day" event on Saturday, where he was the guest of honour.
Along with a group of Bob's family and friends, many of Bob's long standing football colleagues came down to join the celebrations.
Those present included Ian Williams, director of the North West Counties League, AFC Blackpool Secretary Billy Singleton, former Chorley FC Chairman and manager Ken Wright, several local referees past and present, and Daisy Hill club members and players who represented the club from the 1960s through to the 1990s.
Ross McNair, manager of West Lancashire League champions Tempest United also called in, before taking charge of his side's game later in the afternoon, to present Bob with a gift to recognise his longstanding relationship with the Lostock-based club.
Bob and his wife Jean were given a guard of honour from the current playing squad and members of his family, as they came out to officially christen the newly named stand, and Bob was presented with a commemorative plaque by Chairman Aaron Hunt and Manager Nicky Hunt, before cutting the ribbon to declare the stand open with its new name.
Before the game kicked off, the Daisy Hill and Maine Road players lined up to applaud Bob as he walked on to the pitch, where he was given an enthusiastic reception from supporters showing their appreciation.
After the final whistle, the day was rounded off in the club house when club captain Jacob Ridings gave a speech on behalf of the players thanking Bob for everything he has done for the club, and Bob was presented with a gift from the club by Manager Nicky Hunt.
Bob reflected afterwards on the day's events.
"It's been brilliant, absolutely superb", he said. "Obviously I knew something was happening, but I didn't know what exactly, so I was taken aback really, and a bit overwhelmed.
"I knew who was likely to come down, but there's been people here who I didn't expect to come, and it's been great to see them, and I do appreciate everything about it.
"I'm not in it for accolades, really, or anything like that, but I suppose it shows what people think about you.
"The club has become part of my life, and there's always been a good camaraderie.
"I know we haven't won any silverware except one trophy in recent years, but we have won the biggest trophy of all, that being respect and the friendship of many, which was highlighted today and will remain as one of my greatest memories.
"It may only be a small club, but it's a good one".
Daisy Hill Vice-Chairman Colin Higson added: "A lot of hard work went in behind the scenes to ensure we did justice on the day in celebrating Bob's contribution to the club.
"When I arrived at the ground on Saturday morning, I felt something special in the air as I looked at photos in the club house of the teams that had graced the pitch as far back as 1894.
"Bob and his family arrived around noon, and we had a great reaction from the junior section of the club, with around 40 children and their parents turning out to wish Bob all the best.
"When Bob and his lovely wife Jean entered the pitch through a guard of honour to formally cut the ribbon and name the stand, I asked him to say a few words, and in all the years I've known Bob, this was the first time I've seen him speechless.
"Bob has been at Daisy Hill for an awfully long time, and he has steered our great football club through rocky waters, when others have fallen by the wayside.
"I thank him so much for that, and I don't think he knows how much I, and all of us at the club, appreciate what he has done.
"It was truly great to see the Daisy family coming together to honour their favourite son".
"Bobs Day" Held At Daisy Hill
Thu 23rd October 2025 | Daisy Hill
By Ian Templeman
Daisy Hill FC President Bob Naylor was honoured at the club's North West Counties League game against Maine Road on Saturday, with a special event to celebrate his 64 years of service to the club.
Bob has been involved at Daisy Hill since the summer of 1961 and held the role of club Secretary continuously for 60 years, until he stepped down from the position in the summer.
To recognise his contribution to the club, one of the stands at the club's Ginge Power Stadium has been named "The Bob Naylor Stand" and the official opening ceremony was organised alongside a special "Bob Day" event on Saturday, where he was the guest of honour.
Along with a group of Bob's family and friends, many of Bob's long standing football colleagues came down to join the celebrations.
Those present included Ian Williams, director of the North West Counties League, AFC Blackpool Secretary Billy Singleton, former Chorley FC Chairman and manager Ken Wright, several local referees past and present, and Daisy Hill club members and players who represented the club from the 1960s through to the 1990s.
Ross McNair, manager of West Lancashire League champions Tempest United also called in, before taking charge of his side's game later in the afternoon, to present Bob with a gift to recognise his longstanding relationship with the Lostock-based club.
Bob and his wife Jean were given a guard of honour from the current playing squad and members of his family, as they came out to officially christen the newly named stand, and Bob was presented with a commemorative plaque by Chairman Aaron Hunt and Manager Nicky Hunt, before cutting the ribbon to declare the stand open with its new name.
Before the game kicked off, the Daisy Hill and Maine Road players lined up to applaud Bob as he walked on to the pitch, where he was given an enthusiastic reception from supporters showing their appreciation.
After the final whistle, the day was rounded off in the club house when club captain Jacob Ridings gave a speech on behalf of the players thanking Bob for everything he has done for the club, and Bob was presented with a gift from the club by Manager Nicky Hunt.
Bob reflected afterwards on the day's events.
"It's been brilliant, absolutely superb", he said. "Obviously I knew something was happening, but I didn't know what exactly, so I was taken aback really, and a bit overwhelmed.
"I knew who was likely to come down, but there's been people here who I didn't expect to come, and it's been great to see them, and I do appreciate everything about it.
"I'm not in it for accolades, really, or anything like that, but I suppose it shows what people think about you.
"The club has become part of my life, and there's always been a good camaraderie.
"I know we haven't won any silverware except one trophy in recent years, but we have won the biggest trophy of all, that being respect and the friendship of many, which was highlighted today and will remain as one of my greatest memories.
"It may only be a small club, but it's a good one".
Daisy Hill Vice-Chairman Colin Higson added: "A lot of hard work went in behind the scenes to ensure we did justice on the day in celebrating Bob's contribution to the club.
"When I arrived at the ground on Saturday morning, I felt something special in the air as I looked at photos in the club house of the teams that had graced the pitch as far back as 1894.
"Bob and his family arrived around noon, and we had a great reaction from the junior section of the club, with around 40 children and their parents turning out to wish Bob all the best.
"When Bob and his lovely wife Jean entered the pitch through a guard of honour to formally cut the ribbon and name the stand, I asked him to say a few words, and in all the years I've known Bob, this was the first time I've seen him speechless.
"Bob has been at Daisy Hill for an awfully long time, and he has steered our great football club through rocky waters, when others have fallen by the wayside.
"I thank him so much for that, and I don't think he knows how much I, and all of us at the club, appreciate what he has done.
"It was truly great to see the Daisy family coming together to honour their favourite son".
