'More to life than football': Slough Town pays tribute to club man Mark Hunter

Tributes have been paid this week following the sudden death of Slough Town’s match day secretary Mark Hunter on Saturday.

Mark worked for the club for many years and across several roles, most recently as the team’s kitman and then the match day secretary.

He also took on roles across the club’s supporters’ teams, first team and women’s section.

Those who knew him have been paying tribute to a man who was ‘always willing to help others’.

A statement from Slough read: “Everyone at Slough Town Football Club was devastated to hear the news of the passing of our Matchday Secretary, Mark Hunter during our game on Saturday.

“Mark has been ever present for many years in several roles across the supporters’ teams, first team and ladies’ setups, until recently as Kitman and then as Matchday Secretary.

“Our thoughts are with Mark’s family and friends at this very difficult time.”

“Further details will be shared in due course.”

The news of Mark’s passing put Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Hemel Hempstead firmly into context for Rebels boss Scott Davies.

Speaking about Mark this week, Davies said: "Mark is going to be someone who is a massive loss. He’s been a massive presence inside the club. He’s someone I’ve seen three times a week for the past seven and a half years. 

"We had a unique relationship in that we used to just laugh and joke with each other in a weird way. I would hammer him and he would hammer me. It was such a beautiful relationship and he’s going to be dearly missed. 

"I wondered why I was stood doing the team sheet with Yella and Mark wasn’t there.

"Low and behold after the game his son came up to me, and I was feeling emotional about the result, and he just said Scott, my dad passed away this morning. It just hit me like a ton of bricks. I stood there with his son in the club house and we were hugging and crying.

"It brought everything home. I was so angry about our performance. But half of my teamtalk last night (Tuesday at Dorking Wanderers) was about how there are bigger things in life than football, but football makes us happy, so we need to try and get a result for him, which we weren’t able to do. But it did bring us back down to earth with a bump."

He added: "He’s done so many hours that people wouldn’t notice. Even the job with the kit, he did an excellent job with it. And when he made mistakes we used to just laugh because it was always somebody else’s fault. I genuinely loved him as a person. 

"He’ll be sadly missed and he was no age really, he was only 67. It’s a real bump in the road for us, because it surprised a lot of people. His family are still a massive part of the club and he’ll be remembered through seeing them but it’s extremely sad." 

Former Slough boss Jon Underwood said Mark was 'a unique character and a proper club man'.

He said: “Couldn’t believe this news when I heard it.

“Worked closely with Mark for a number of years.

“A unique character, proper club man, worked so hard and showed dedication over such a long period.

“He will be greatly missed, and my thoughts are with Leigh and all of the family.”

Slough supporters and those who worked alongside Mark at Arbour Park have also posted their tributes to him online after the club confirmed the news this morning.