Camden Tavern have been given a double incentive to win the Norfolk Sunday Senior Cup after tragedy struck the Yarmouth-based team.
The club has recently lost one of its most loyal supporters, Anthony Bishop – affectionately known as Bish – but have the perfect opportunity to mark his life with another Carrow Road victory, this time against Norwich side Marlborough, on May 16.
But it will be the last game Camden Tavern play – they plan to fold at the end of the season.
‘Bish’ was a former owner of the Camden Tavern and was described by stepson Ryan Starkey as one of its greatest backers.
“He was the club’s biggest supporter,” said Starkey. “He loved it with a passion. He was a big Norwich City supporter but he was a Camden fan as well – he absolutely loved it to bits.
“When we won the Cup in 2007 most of what we did then was for him and that meant the world to him.
“Unfortunately he is not going to be there this time around and while no one wants to put extra pressure on the team, there’s no doubt that winning will be the best way to go out and the best way to remember Bish.
“If Camden don’t win, then Bish would simply have said, ‘be proud that you got there in the first place’. If Camden win it would have been, ‘go out in style’ – and that would mean a lot to him.
“We expect there to be a bug turn-out on the night – Camden fans, and friends from other pubs in the area as well as friends of Bish’s.”
Camden Tavern, as an establishment, may be unable to back the team next season while a number of first team players will be unavailable, although some are expected to plays in a Vet’s league. The reserves look set to continue in another guise, but for Camden Tavern FC, it seems like it is the end of the road.
“It will be the club’s last ever game,” said Starkey, who is currently secretary for the Pub on the Shrubs Yarmouth and District Saturday League. “It’s a huge shame that Bish won’t be here to see it but it would be fitting if we could win it for him.”
Starkey himself isn’t sure whether he will play in the final – he has played the last five games in goal, having returned to the fold after undergoing a kidney transplant last August.
“To be honest I still don’t expect to play in the final,” he said.
“Rob Thornton is still injured, which is why I came back, but as long as I am there in some form or another to support the club on the night I will be quite happy.”
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