‘He cared about all levels of the game’ - tributes paid to former Worthing FC chairman Tony Lander

Tributes have been paid to former Worthing FC Chairman and local sporting personality Tony Lander who passed away in St Barnabas House earlier this month.
Tony is picture with the late Kenny Turner, with players and club officials, after sponsoring Maple Leaf FC.Tony is picture with the late Kenny Turner, with players and club officials, after sponsoring Maple Leaf FC.
Tony is picture with the late Kenny Turner, with players and club officials, after sponsoring Maple Leaf FC.

Moving from Worthing from Hampton Middlesex in 1979, via his new neighbour Hugh Rowlings he coached the then Durrington Dynamos Under10 squad from 19080/81.

He later became Chairman of Dynamos and through his company Stentofon he also became a principal sponsor of the club, as well as the Worthing Bears Basketball team.

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Through his Dynamos connections he became involved at Woodside Road, and succeeded Morty Hollis as Chairman in the summer of 1987, during a difficult and transitional time at the Club.

Testament to Tony the person is former Worthing boss Keith Rowley who said “Even though in his time as chairman he sacked me, he was still a lovely man, passionate about his football.”

Lander’s tenure as Worthing Chairman was short but eventful, and he was eventually succeeded by the late Jim Lelliott in December 1988.

Lelliott’s son, and all time Woodside Road playing legend, Paul summed up Lander “He was genuinely a nice guy, who cared about all levels of the game. He was also one of those special breed of football people, who didn’t just talk about it, he put his hand in his pocket whilst others looked on.”

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Lander’s love of the game and his generosity was highlighted when the former youth football manager Kenny Turner wanted to start an adult team from scratch when several former youth players had passed 16.

He famously showed Tony a ‘card trick’ and as a result Stentofon basically underwrote the formation of Maple Leaf FC, who went on to enjoy success in senior football.

Tony leaves a widow, Maggie, two daughters, Debbie and Jo and a granddaughter, Hetty, he will be sadly missed by all his friends, family and the wider local sporting community.

Donations in Tony’s memory can be sent to St Barnabas via Ian Hart Funeral Service, https://anthonylander.muchloved.com

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