The funeral takes place on Monday, 12th March, of the highly regarded Guiseley AFC stalwart Keith Clapham.

A Life Member of the club Keith, 89, died peacefully in hospital on Saturday, 17th February,  just hours before the game against Maidenhead.

On that day the players lined up in the centre of the field to join the crowd in a round of applause in tribute to Keith.

Approaching his 90th birthday Keith had spent the last couple of weeks of his life in hospital.

A former Guiseley AFC goalkeeper, Keith was happy to see the club rise through the ranks of non-league football and he always enjoyed his chats with visiting directors when helping out in the hospitality suite.

Born in Guiseley Keith attended schools locally moving on from junior school to Aireborough Grammar School.

Keith served in the RAF in the late 1940s and went on to work at Doncaster Monkbridge in Leeds, where parts were made for aeroplanes, and then at Horsforth chemical firm Sandoz.

He and his wife Gladys, who were married for 58 years, spent much of their life involved with Guiseley AFC, where Keith served as a committee member and Gladys worked in hospitality, later introducing their daughter Susan to the role, a capacity she is still actively engaged in.

At one time the couple were also responsible for cleaning the changing rooms, just one of the tasks they took on with their unfailing cheerfulness.

Keith and Gladys also enjoyed playing bowls and were involved with both the Greenbottom and Guiseley Bowls Clubs.

As well as daughter Susan Keith leaves a son Ian and three grandchildren.

Keith, always had a welcoming smile and had a wealth of knowledge of the club and its trials and tribulations over the years.

He will be sadly missed by all at Nethermoor.

Keith’s funeral will take place at Rawdon Crematorium at 12:20pm on Monday 12th March 2018.

The thoughts of Guiseley AFC are with Susan, Ian and Keith’s family and friends at this sad time.