Alan Day pictured heading the opening goal in a 3-1 win over Ryman Division Two Champions Tooting & Mitcham United on the last day of the 2000/01 Season. “Daisy” was a big favorite with the fans during his five years plus association with the Dragons.
Signed in November 1996 from Clacton Town, having previously played for Stanway Rovers, he scored 75 goals in 215 first team appearances. His impact wasn’t only on the pitch as he also became involved away from playing, even building the old (now defunct) concrete burger hut and the following tribute was payed to “Daisy” by then Club Chairwoman Maz Brook, in the Programme for the final game of the 2001/02 Season.
“As you know we have an end of Season bash tonight, but there won’t be any of the usual player awards because (a) we’re all too knackered to organize them and (b) it has been a non-competitive season and we’ve had far too many players to even attempt to present awards. However I simply cannot let the moment pass without mentioning one player and one player alone. Had we had time to organize the awards he would probably have bagged them all, and not just because he was the only player with us all season!
This guys attitude this season has summed up the spirit of Wivenhoe Town and in my opinion he has played his best season football since he came to the Club. He was the only player who didn’t walk away from the Club in the summer and has proudly worn the Captains armband and scored two of the most fantastic goals I’ve had the privileged of seeing at Broad Lane.
He said he will finish his career with the Club and he means it- he loves Wivenhoe Town. On top of that he has helped off the pitch doing odd jobs and running around picking up bar supplies, he’s even become a member of the Clubs darts team.
My player of the Season and without doubt everyone else’s …… Alan Day! Maz Brook
There is little to be added to that other than to say several of us ‘hoe fans of a certain vintage regarded this bloke as one of the true legends and it was fitting that one of his goals, a thunderous winning volley against Met Police, was viewed by a nation in the 1998 ITV documentary “I dreamed I won the FA Cup”.
Mind you, having said all this, Daddsy maybe has one less fond memory of Daisy that being the Sunday morning our man arrived at his house and literally dragged him out of bed to come up the club and work behind the bar with Jan and John B, when four coach loads of people from Newport Pagnell turned up for a youth Cup Final (I’ve heard of topless waitresses but pyjama-bottomed bar staff?!! …… needless to say it didn’t catch on.
“ole, ole, ole, ole, Daisy Day, Daisy Day”
Alan Day a top man if ever there was one. Especially remember his wedding reception at the Club – a particularly drunken, but wonderful occasion. A good player and a good clubman to boot. Served the club well both on and off the pitch.