After 53 years service, retiring contract manager Dave Dickinson expected the usual gold watch at his retirement do. Instead, we were delighted to gift him a match sponsorship at his beloved Blackpool FC, and despite the ‘Seasiders’ losing 3-0 to Huddersfield in the EFL Championship, it was a tangerine dream for the lifelong supporter.
69-year-old season ticket holder, Dave, was a senior figure with former Blackpool electrical contracting company, EI NW, which was bought by Ameon in 2010; resulting in him enjoying 53 years’ unbroken service with one organisation. And we decided that his unprecedented service deserved to be marked with a retirement gift worthy of the moment, and so sponsored the league match and gifted it to him to put his name in lights.
Known for his dedication to Blackpool FC, Dave has supported the team through thick and thin, even moving the date of his wedding to his much-loved late wife, Pat, because it clashed with a Blackpool home match! And he hasn’t missed a game since.
Ameon managing director, Robin Lawson commented: “Dave is not only a great guy but he’s pretty much unique in employment terms, having worked continuously for one organisation for over half a century, so it was important for us to honour that commitment with a unique parting gift.
“We don’t know if any employee has ever been given their own match sponsorship as a retirement present but for such a football fanatic, it was the next best thing to playing for the team for him.”
Family, friends and colleagues joined Dave in the sponsors’ lounge at Bloomfield Road to celebrate his retirement, and as well as being centre stage to present the man of the match award, he also received a commemorative Blackpool shirt, bearing his name and the number 53. In addition, the man who was universally popular in the Ameon organisation had his name in lights on the Bloomfield Road scoreboard, and the rousing support of friends and work colleagues. He remarked: “I’ve been to this ground around 2,000 times, and seen my team promoted to the Premier League but this evening is one I will never forget…although I won’t dwell too long on the result!
“For Ameon to do this for me is a fantastic gesture but they are a tremendous organisation, so I shouldn’t be too surprised that they’ve been so thoughtful, which is why I’ll miss everyone at the company.”
