Tributes have been paid to the former vice-chairman and “lifelong supporter” of a Lurgan football club who passed away over the weekend.
John Sinnamon, the former vice chairman of Glenavon Football Club, passed away last night (Sunday).
The news was announced in a statement from the Lurgan club, of which John was a “lifelong supporter.” On Sunday, the club had reported that he was unwell in Craigavon Area Hospital.
John joined the Board of Directors of the club in 2012, becoming vice-chairman in 2016, before retiring from the role in 2020.
The statement from Glenavon FC, which was posted on the club’s website, spoke of “great sadness” at the news of John’s passing.
It said: “He had been a lifelong supporter of the Lurgan Blues, recalling that his earliest memory of following Glenavon was hearing on the radio when he was a seven-year-old boy that Glenavon had won the first game of the 1960 New York tournament 5-1 against the New York Americans. However, he was bitterly disappointed just days later when they lost 3-0 to Bayern Munich!
“Away from Glenavon he supported Liverpool and Hearts. In fact, he missed our infamous win over Portadown to secure European qualification when Andy McGrory scored a stoppage time penalty as he was at Tynecastle – but he kept a keen eye on what was going on at Mourneview Park that day, getting regular updates from his son Andrew.”
The statement continued: “However, it was the Lurgan Blues who were his always his main footballing passion and he remained a regular at our games after leaving the board of directors.
“He is survived by his wife Pearl, son Andrew, daughter-in-law Marie and granddaughters Nila and Thea. The thoughts of everyone at the club are with John’s family at this sad time.”
Glenavon’s local rivals, Portadown FC, took to social media to pay tribute to John.
In a post on Facebook the club said: “Everyone at Portadown Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Glenavon vice-chairman John Sinnamon.
“We pass on our thoughts, prayers & condolences to our friends at Glenavon & the Sinnamon family circle at this sad time.”
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