Home
Back in 2010 my dad was diagnosed with leukaemia. He was a lifelong fan of BWFC and when I was a kid we were season ticket holders at Burden Park.
That season I decided to get my dad a season ticket as thanks for when he used to take me.
He had good days and bad days but always looked forward to going to the match when fit enough.
The following year he took a turn for the worse and couldn't make the games through illness.
So I kept my season ticket and got one for my daughter.
He always loved the style that Arsenal played so in February, 2012 I enquired about upgrading my daughter's seat for him.
I phoned the ticket office to upgrade and they wanted £30 to do it.
I was a bit disgruntled and sent Phil an email thinking it was unfair as it was already our seat so to speak.
Within two hours I received a reply saying he didn't think it was fair either. He got in touch with the ticket office and they explained that my daughter's ticket was £60 for the year so they had to charge extra.
I replied to Phil thanking him for his swift explanation on the matter. I mentioned the fact my dad was ill and it was a treat.
Within the hour I received an email inviting my dad and I to watch the game from the directors' box with pre-match meal included.
On getting to the Reebok we went up to the directors' suite and were treated like kings. Phil came over to our table and asked for my dad and sat chatting to him for a good 10 minutes about the good ol' days. After chatting he handed my dad a signed shirt of the team on the evening. We watched the game, a 0-0 draw.
He didn't have to reply to me, he could of fobbed me off, but what Phil Gartside did that night made a dying man very happy.
My dad has since passed away but there was never a day that he didn't mention the kindness and treatment given to us by Phil.
My daughter has the shirt framed now in memory of her grandad and I still have the tickets. I just hope that Phil didn't suffer too much and that he had his family around him at this time. Thank you Phil. RIP.
David Brookfield
Source
That season I decided to get my dad a season ticket as thanks for when he used to take me.
He had good days and bad days but always looked forward to going to the match when fit enough.
The following year he took a turn for the worse and couldn't make the games through illness.
So I kept my season ticket and got one for my daughter.
He always loved the style that Arsenal played so in February, 2012 I enquired about upgrading my daughter's seat for him.
I phoned the ticket office to upgrade and they wanted £30 to do it.
I was a bit disgruntled and sent Phil an email thinking it was unfair as it was already our seat so to speak.
Within two hours I received a reply saying he didn't think it was fair either. He got in touch with the ticket office and they explained that my daughter's ticket was £60 for the year so they had to charge extra.
I replied to Phil thanking him for his swift explanation on the matter. I mentioned the fact my dad was ill and it was a treat.
Within the hour I received an email inviting my dad and I to watch the game from the directors' box with pre-match meal included.
On getting to the Reebok we went up to the directors' suite and were treated like kings. Phil came over to our table and asked for my dad and sat chatting to him for a good 10 minutes about the good ol' days. After chatting he handed my dad a signed shirt of the team on the evening. We watched the game, a 0-0 draw.
He didn't have to reply to me, he could of fobbed me off, but what Phil Gartside did that night made a dying man very happy.
My dad has since passed away but there was never a day that he didn't mention the kindness and treatment given to us by Phil.
My daughter has the shirt framed now in memory of her grandad and I still have the tickets. I just hope that Phil didn't suffer too much and that he had his family around him at this time. Thank you Phil. RIP.
David Brookfield
Source