Words Brian Flynn

Altrincham Football Club is mourning the passing of lifelong Altrincham supporter, Harry Wood at the age of 76.

Harry was ‘Club Person of The Year’ in 2024 and has been part of the very fabric of life at The J.Davidson Stadium in recent years.

His passing has been received with great sorrow by the many people who worked with him at The J.Davidson Stadium and in consultation with Harry’s family, we have allowed the sad news of his passing to settle, whilst preparing a fitting tribute.

Born in Mossley, Harry moved to Hale Barns in 1962, when fostered by Fred and
Pauline Aubrey. Later that year, Fred took Harry and his younger brother, David, to their first Alty game and Harry has supported the Robins for over 60 years, through the good and bad times.

In the late 1960s, it was Harry who started the ‘Zigga Zagga, Zigga Zagga, Altrincham’ chant, subsequently immortalised by the late Kenny Palin. He became friends with many players and managers over the years including John King and Graham Heathcote and introduced various family members to Altrincham FC including Gill, his wife, Lisa, his daughter and more recently, Harry his grandson and his son-in-law Les, although he could never persuade his granddaughter Victoria to attend any matches.

Following his retirement from the role of groundsman at Bowdon Vale Cricket Club, Harry approached the football club to become a volunteer where he was warmly welcomed by everyone.

He took on many roles at the club from devoting, weeding, mowing the pitch, drainage and much more, all whilst having numerous chemotherapy treatments. He strongly believed that doing all this kept him focused on the positives of helping and not the negatives of the terrible disease he was being treated for.

Even just two weeks before he passed, he was at the ground watching his grandson Harry, also a club volunteer, working on the pitch, sharing his words of wisdom. Harry loved meeting and having chats with everyone at the ground and felt he had made many new friends, and he was immensely proud to be awarded the highly prestigious ‘Club Person of The Year’ in 2024 for his tireless work behind the scenes.

Altrincham FC CEO, Sam Mackenzie, paid the following tribute on behalf of the football club.

“Harry will forever be in my memory as being a force of nature, a doer, a finisher, a
kind genuine man who I am lucky to have known.

“He never ever stopped; he chatted and made me smile every single time I saw him. I personally will miss him so very much, and the club will not be the same without him. We are one family, and we all feel his loss and all of us offer our sincere condolences to Harry’s family at this very sad time. “

Harry’s funeral and burial will be on Tuesday 22nd July at 12.45pm at Altrincham Crematorium, followed by a wake at Altrincham Football Club. Harry requested no mourning clothes and a final drive by the ground, so the funeral cortege will pass by The J.Davidson Stadium around 12.05-12.10pm, with a brief stop outside.

Rest in peace, Harry.