Town club and newsagents thanked for Don tributes

The family of Don Carman has praised Morpeth Town FC and Gordon Carr Newsagents for the enormous tributes that they made to him.
The window display in tribute to Don Carman at Gordon Carr Newsagents in Morpeth.The window display in tribute to Don Carman at Gordon Carr Newsagents in Morpeth.
The window display in tribute to Don Carman at Gordon Carr Newsagents in Morpeth.

He was an important part of the football club for many years and chairman Ken Beattie said he gave almost all of his spare time to Morpeth Town.

Don died in his home at the age of 79 in April and his funeral took place at St James’s Church on May 11. Eleven days later, Morpeth beat Hereford FC 4-1 at Wembley in the final of the FA Vase.

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His daughter, Susan Layton, said: “My dad supported Morpeth Town from the age of 15. In the last 30 years he was a dedicated committee member and he tended the grounds for 19 years, and I know how proud he would be that Morpeth Town won the FA Vase and brought it back to his home town.

“He would have been watching from up above and willing them to win.”

The players wore yellow ribbons in memory of Don during the game and there were banners displayed outside the Morpeth Arms and in Wembley.

Susan said: “People were sending us texts and photographs all weekend – it was unbelievable.”

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Don’s wife Barbara and Susan were invited to join the players on the stage at Morpeth Fair Day. They were later presented with a framed Wembley shirt with ‘Carman 1’ on the back and ‘Forever in the hearts of Morpeth Town’ in front of the Mayor in the Town Hall.

The family also thanked Brian, Chloe and Niall Penfold for their tribute to Don in their newsagents shop window.

Susan said: “My dad did the early morning shift at Brian’s shop and he asked if we minded if he put a couple of photos of my dad in the window as a tribute.

“We were overcome by the amazing display, it is perfect.”

Members of the public have also been thanked for their support after the collection at the funeral service for the Alan Shearer Centre in Newcastle raised £1,000.