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On Monday, 18th December 2006, family, friends and a
large number of friends and colleagues within the football and
refereeing fraternity including high profile National Referees, senior
members of the Lincolnshire Football Association and members of the
local Referees’ Associations, celebrated the life of Martyn Lee Short in
a very moving ceremony led by the Reverend Chris Boland at the
Church of the Ascension, Harrowby. The
celebration started with the playing of the tune 'Abide with Me' as
Martyn's coffin, adorned with a floral tribute in the shape and colours
of a senior assistant flag, was brought in to the church. The
Reverend Boland then did a reading from the last book in the bible.
Our Chairman, Mick Massingham, then went briefly
through Martyn's impressive 33 year refereeing career, 19 years of
which was at the top end of the Premier and Football Leagues. Mick
paid particular attention to the contribution Martyn made to local and
regional refereeing development, and his tenure on committees in
associations in Sheffield, York, Northern Premier, Football League, and
the wisdom he bestowed upon our own association as it's Vice Chairman
for more than 10 years. With a tear in his eye, Mick ended his eulogy by
stating he and the members of our association were extremely privileged
to have known such a gentleman and would miss our friend deeply.
Les Burrow was asked by Martyn's wife Anne to say a
few words about Martyn the man. What a task, and where do you start?
Les was simply inspired to use some choice quotes from the hundreds of
tributes that came flooding in from Martyns friends and colleagues about
this modest Yorkshireman. His eulogy moved everyone so deeply that it is
repeated here as a testimony on how well respected and loved Martyn was
by all.
Martyn Short - The Man
In celebration the whole congregation then sang with
gusto an extract from one of Martyn and Anne's favourite songs 'You'll
Never Walk Alone'. which was then followed by prayers. The
song 'A Bridge Over Troubled Water' was played as Martyn's coffin set off
for his final journey for a private family gathering at the Crematorium.
Numerous stories about the good times everyone had
with Martyn and the influence he had on numerous careers were exchanged
in a packed Shirley Croft Hotel. Anne and Laura would have heard a
common theme whilst walking among the congregation: gentle, kind,
helpful, honest, caring, respected and loved. Well Anne and Laura,
we thank you for the privilege of celebrating Martyn's life with you,
our fond memories of the times we had will linger for a long, long time.
Here are two tributes from members of our association that epitomise how
highly regarded your loving husband and father was to us all.
Martyn's
Fixture - An Ode to Martyn By Les Burrow
A Tribute to Martyn - By Adrian Johnson
Gifts
Hospice: The Gifts Hospice provided a
tremendous amount of help and support to Anne, Martyn and daughter
Laura during Martyn's illness which enabled him to spend his finals days
at home. Please read all about this fantastic support agency by
visiting their Gifts Hospice
Website. You can still
continue to give donations to the Gifts Hospice via Robert Holland
Funeral Directors, 14 St
Catherine's Road, Grantham NG31 6TS.
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