This article was featured in the Dundalk FC Magazine, February 2008.
It was with great sadness that last November Dundalk FC lost one of its best supporters Neil Ross. Neil has been a supporter of the club since he was sixteen when he started coming to games with his brother. From then on his loyalties were split between his hometown club of Dundalk and Aston Villa who he followed through thick and thin. Neil’s involvement with the club is never to be under estimated with his work through the Oriel Travel Club and Dundalk FM. With the travel club he was a committee member who helped out in various capacities over the years. Travelling all round the country with his friend Gerry Campbell who past away in 2002, Neil felt right at home in the company of some of Dundalk’s hard core supporters. Brendan Conachy described him as a “Very willing and a good worker. Even better knowing what I know now”
However it was with his work with Dundalk FM that Neil really shone. As the ‘voice of sport’ for Dundalk FM never before has Dundalk FC received such excellent radio media coverage. With interviews on a regular basis with both the managers and players Neil built up a fantastic rapport with the club and had his very own show dedicated to Dundalk FC. The lilywhites programme which aired on a Monday night saw the famous faces of the past being interviewed speaking on their times at the club. Managers Turlogh O’Connor, Dermot Keely and players such as Tommy Mc Conville and Martin Lawlor were all interviewed as Neil scoured through memory lane to find interesting tales and stories. It is without doubt one of the finest and most enjoyable shows that were aired on Dundalk FM. He also hosted a Saturday afternoon show entitled ‘The Sports Academy’ which combined his first love Dundalk FC with other sports in the locality. Neil’s passion for sport shone through as he brought the community radio station to the sports community of Dundalk. Through his hard work he built up relationships with all facets of sports in the locality and gave them a medium to promote their game. It is true to say he was a pioneer in that respect as he was the first to commit to such a venture.
Dundalk manager John Gill spoke fondly of Neil “Neil was someone I had built a great relationship with. He was a real die hard supporter and I only realise now how much the club meant to him now that he is gone. He was a very witty person who was never afraid to ask the hard hitting questions and I respected that”
I knew Neil by travelling with him on the Oriel Travel Club bus for many years and later on through my work on Dundalk FM. Neil introduced me to the station and encouraged me to take part on his Sports Academy show on a Saturday afternoon. We built up a great friendship and I was shocked and saddened by his passing. Everyone at Dundalk FC will agree when I say that we have lost one of the best supporters this club has ever seen.
Neil you will be sorely missed.
