We are saddened to hear of the passing of our former manager Eric Jarvis.
Our thoughts are with Eric’s family and friends at this sad time.
Eric was appointed as our manager in 1973.
During his time with the Lions Jarvis set up the club’s reserve side and won the club’s first ever FA Vase tie with a 2-1 win at North Ferriby.
Eric also steered the club to promotion winning the Yorkshire League Second Division championship to restore the Lions’ place in the First Division.
In the 1979/80 campaign Jarvis’ side secured the runners up spot and won the League Cup beating league champions Emley in a game played at Valley Parade, Ian Cooper’s penalty sealed the victory.
In the same season the Lions also retained the West Riding County Cup with a 3-1 win against Fryston CW, Bob Lawson hit a brace and Roy Baker added to the tally.
Eric was still involved in football and was Wakefield Walking Football’s oldest active player at 86 years of age.
Paying tribute to his friend former Radio Leeds presenter John Boyd, who Jarvis asked to lead the reserve side he set up, said:
“It’s always hard to lose an old friend but especially so when you feel you owe a debt to that person. I first met Eric when we played together for Real Santos on a Sunday morning. We clicked immediately especially when we talked football and for once in my sweet life I listened rather than talked.
I learned so much from a man who still stroked the ball around and so often set me up with a goal scoring chance with a precision pass.
When I passed my FA Coaching Awards Eric was the manager of Guiseley and he invited me to the club to specifically start a reserve side in a bid to strengthen the first team. This was in the old Yorkshire League round about 50 years ago. I loved being there and settled in straight away. We worked together and along with Alan Vevers, Erics Assistant, we put together a very useful squad. When Eric recruited me to work with him at Guiseley I had my happiest time ever in local football.
All this set me up nicely for a 2 year stint at Farsley Celtic as Manager. I knew all along that I had Eric to thank for all his help.
To hear of his passing I feel very very sad. He was such a genuine bloke and along with his wife Marlene they raised a smashing family. I often went to his home just off Riccy Lane in Pudsey and although we were on opposing sides eventually it made no difference to our friendship.
In more recent years we have been in regular contact through Facebook and it was always my pleasure to hear from him.
As a player he was easily my favourite and as a person I loved his strength of character and his innate kindness so rest in peace my dear old buddy.”
