Baggies kitman's dying wish granted as book is published
He saw an FA Cup win, League Cup win, and witnessed the highs of promotions and lows of relegations as he gave decades of service to his beloved football club.
Former West Bromwich Albion's kitman Dave Matthews gave 51 years of his life to Albion, but died on April 14 aged 67, less than a year after he retired.
His dying wish was for his autobiography telling readers what is was really like in the changing rooms at The Hawthorns down the years – Mr Albion – to be published.
Dave had battled non-Hodgkin lymphoma and was in remission when then diagnosed with a rare heart condition. Dave was dubbed Mr Albion by members of Baggies squads past and present including many club greats. Cyril Regis and Brendon Batson, along with ex-striker Bob Taylor, 70s centre-half duo John Wile and Alistair Robertson and Paul Raven acted as pallbearers at his funeral in May.
The book will be unveiled at a meeting of the West Bromwich Albion Supporters' Club at The Hawthorns tomorrow.
Former club chaplain and close friend Ken Hipkiss had hinted his career was 'the stuff legends and books are made of'.
Dave, from Hasbury in Halesowen, committed three quarters of his life to print alongside freelance journalist and ghost writer David Instone before his death.
It left Carol and daughters Alison and Clare to decide whether they should complete his work.
"We thought it would be a lasting tribute to him if we could finish it," said Carol. I knew it was Dave's dream to have his book published.
"There probably were stories that Dave would have known and hadn't written down that could have gone in the book, but they were lost when he died."
The event starts at 8pm in the East Stand at The Hawthorns.
