Tributes pour in for Forest AFC manager ‘Wacker’

FRIENDS of Stephen Wakefield gathered together at Forest Community Centre last month to pay tribute to the Forest AFC manager.

News of Stephen’s sudden death has shocked the community, especially the Forest AFC players.

Vice captain of Forest AFC Lee Fordham said, “I saw him on Sunday and he seemed fine but then decided to go home because he said he didn’t feel very well. When I heard that he had died I didn’t know what to do, I was in shock. He lived and died for this place but he wouldn’t have had it any other way. He was the life of the club and kept everything going. It will be tough but we are all going to pull together and keep things going, for him.”

Former club secretary Adrian Skinner said, “We are all still in shock but we thought it would be nice for everyone to come together to support each other during this tough time.

“The guys are struggling with it because we’ve lost a family member. That’s how close we all are and he brought that to the club.

“He did everything for the club, he did all the jobs rolled into one. He probably did too much but he loved it. We will miss him and it won’t be the same without him.”

Stephen, or ‘Wacker’ as he was known by his friends, had been busy developing the ladies team. Joint captains Louise Stallard and Natasha Ward said, “He was an absolutely brilliant manager. He’d bend over backwards for you and tried so hard to get the team going. He truly believed in the team and was excited about what we could do. We will keep it going for him but it won’t be the same. We will all miss him.”

Vic Oakman chairman of the community centre said, “I’m devastated, he was a top bloke and I can’t quite believe that he’s gone. He put so much passion into the place and gave so much of his time to keep things going. He helped build the community centre and without his financial help, we wouldn’t have been able to open when we did. He will be sorely missed by so many people.”

The AFC Forest team wrote a heartfelt tribute for Stephen called ‘What a Guy’. It read, “AFC Forest would like to thank Wacker for all he has done for the club and the community.

“His drive, ambition and his dream has transformed the facilities at the ground from a leaky hut to a community centre that is quickly becoming the cornerstone of Forest, along with purpose-built changing rooms. It was all down to your hard work and sacrifice. As a team, your team, everything we are is because of you. Everything we achieve is because of you, every time we put on the kit, it’s because of you, every time we kick a ball it’s because of you and every game is for you.

“It’s been an honour to call you but an even greater honour to call you our friend. You will never be forgotten and you will live through AFC Forest. AFC Forest is Wacker’s Forest. RIP Wacker.”