Following the passing of a Gillingham supporter of 60 years, who “will be remembered as part of the Gills story,” tributes have been given.
The deceased Alan Liptrott was survived by his wife Gloria, son Gary, and granddaughter Zoe. He passed away last week. He had been a Gills supporter since 1965, having served as the club’s chairman in the past and being a major contributor to its survival in the mid-1990s.
In a statement, the Gillingham supporters’ club praised Alan for his “very active involvement in keeping the Gills in business when they went into receivership in 1995,” highlighting his significant impact during a trying period at Priestfield. The statement also stated that “without Alan we really may not have had a club to support today.”
Mr. Liptrott, a retired telephone engineer, lived in Walderslade for the majority of his life until relocating to Sandgate, but he never wavered in his support of the Gills.
The Gillingham Supporters Club went on to say that Alan was and always will be “among the best.” You won’t find a kinder individual than this one. Alan will be deeply missed by all of us, and we all have wonderful memories of him.
Around 1967, or 57 years ago, Alan was already an active member of the Blue & Whites Association, where current GSC chairman Neil Klee first met his predecessor. He was already entangled in everything Gillingham.