The Club announced the sad loss of its former long term Secretary and Life President last week and we now share with the BORO’ family the memories and tribute from close friend and Club Life Vice President… Jeremy Fox

‘I've always prided myself on having a half decent memory, so I well remember an early Autumn day in 1994. I was sixteen years old and watching Gosport Borough draw 1-1 with Aerostructures (now Folland Sports) in the Wessex League.

My Dad had taken out a pitch side advertising board sponsorship with the club and he asked me to speak to the Secretary, to ensure the board had been made up and put into place. I saw the gentleman concerned so made my way down the stairs from the seat I always bagged in the main stand. “Excuse me it's Mr Cosgrave isn't it?”.......

A broad smile returned to this nervous young lad along with a very cheerful “It is indeed...what can I do for you?” As the subsequent years would prove......quite a lot actually!

I am sitting here 29 years later reflecting on almost three decades of friendship with Brian Cosgrave. The man I came to call my best friend, the man I have so much to thank for, is no longer with us. He was chiefly responsible for the man I have become today, after taking me under his wing and quietly guiding me, shaping me and when required, giving me a kick up the bum.

That November afternoon was the first time I met him, but true friendship was to come later. For those first few years I was an over-enthusiastic, naïve teenager who hadn't had it easy. To say I would annoy Brian and his wife Jenny with the countless questions and many phone calls was an understatement. But he remained patient and kind and never once told me to stop.

But towards the end of the 1990's, Brian kindly drove me to away games and began to get to know the real me. My volunteering days at Boro began in 1995 and by the end of the decade I was heavily involved as Press Officer and I'd also inherited another key task from him, the role of Public Address announcer. Despite being just 18, he thought I could do the job and I eventually got there after making loads of rookie errors. Today I am in my sixth (I think) spell of doing the mic, and many of the phrases I use were on Brian's advice and much of the etiquette I use was exactly what he taught. I've blended those in with my own ways of doing things, but I'll never forget Brian was my tutor. Here I am in 2023 at 45 years of age still carrying those lessons.

By the mid-2000's a true friendship was well underway. Many shared experiences such as matchday morning pitch inspections and preparations, away travel and most significantly him being the best man at my wedding in 2001 cemented a powerful friendship. The marriage may not have lasted but the friendship did. One day he turned round to me and said; “Remember what I'm about to tell you”. When he said something like that, I'd learned to shut up and listen. “People will always come and go from your life, some may masquerade as friends for a while, but the true friends, the real friends will be just a handful of people, maybe just four or five who will always be there through the years no matter what, and they're the ones you can call your best friends”. He was right of course and he became part of that circle for years to come whereas other people I've been close to have drifted away.

In 2004, Brian suffered a heart attack and he spent a few days in QA Hospital. The work he had been doing in the Secretary's role needed to be split three ways between myself, (looking after the stadium) Roy Newman (the football side) and the-then Chairman John Stimpson who took care of financial matters. Three people to do what he'd taken on! Thankfully he recovered and eventually resumed his duties and the club took steps to ensure his workload was reduced.

When Boro finally won the Wessex League in 2007, they were promoted to the Southern League and he and I made an arrangement. We'd car share for the long away trips that came with promotion. If he drove, I'd buy him lunch on the way to the game and if I drove, he'd return the favour. Cue many adventures on motorways and highways(and pubs!) across Southern England. That's where a much deeper bond was formed.

I'd also grown closer to the rest of Brian's family. His two daughters Amy and Becky, his wife Jenny and to an extent his wider family too. His family were his life along with the club. The dizzy heights of the 2010's brought more adventures, two more promotions, a certain trip to Wembley amongst others. But it also brought dreadful lows and the day I always feared.....Brian announcing his retirement.

I always knew it would happen, but when we returned for the 2017/18 season and he was no longer involved....to say it was strange wasn't nearly enough. It was beyond that. 27 years of him in the Secretary's position was all over. He still helped out here and there, but that was merely a weaning off process and by Christmas 2017, his day-to-day involvement was finished. I would never truly get used to him not being around.

The club had honoured him by bestowing him with the position of Life President....previously held by GBFC legends such as Bill Adams, Harry Mizen and John Stimpson. Brian had also had a grandstand view of pretty much my entire adult life and was a constant presence. In 2017, in my darkest hour he opened his door to me, taking me in for two weeks when I was homeless. That leg-up allowed me to find somewhere to live and start building a new life. I will always be grateful and will never be able to repay that fantastic gesture. He, as he so often did, helped me when I needed it the most. We shared and lived in the club's story and history. Sometimes, we made it ourselves.

I've had a week to start to come to terms with the loss of a special man who commanded respect far and wide. He set an example, a standard, in local and football and in life that many tried to follow. That so many people have shared their memories of him tells its own story. Brian Cosgrave was unique, one of a kind, a true family man, Gosport Borough legend, but beyond that...a true local football legend. There won't be another like him.

On behalf of Gosport Borough Football Club….Thank You for your amazing service to our Community Club Brian, and thank you to his devoted family for lending us such a good man.

We are delighted to welcome a number of Brian’s immediate family to the AEI Stadium for Saturday’s game.

Rest in Peace Brian….