Dear Sue, David, Amy and Sophie May I offer you our sincerest condolences on the passing of Steve. I dearly wish that I could have been there to celebrate Steve’s life with you and the family and friends. Steve’s infectious energy, his love of life, and the ability to simply enjoy a good laugh are my lasting memories of Garby. I first met Garby when I played school football against him, me with St Kevin’s and Garby with Middleton. Then we played together in Leeds City Boys under 15’s. It was a sheer delight playing in that team, and Garby’s infectious personality was critical in the success of that team. We managed to get to the quarter finals of the English Schools competition, eventually losing out to Liverpool at ‘Penny Lane’, after a 0-0 draw at Elland Road; and won the Yorkshire Schools trophy. I realise now that players and people like Garby are so important to have in a dressing room, or in a work place, their personalities are the glue that is critical for building team spirit. I remember a photo taken by the Yorkshire Evening Post of us in the shower at the Oldfield Lane ground one winter’s night, with Garby’s smile beaming through the dim light and steam. From 15 years of age we were almost constant team mates, playing with Pudsey Juniors, Leeds Ashley Road, and with the great Inter Kiev in the Sunday League. Even going down to play for Brighton v Charlton in a cup game in London. Then one day I got a phone call from Steve and John (Jack) Wilkinson asking me if I’d be interested in going over to play with them for Merton East in Brisbane. And before I knew it I was being picked up from the Brisbane airport by Steve, Sue, John, Jennifer and Eddie Riley (President) and Bob ‘your cheques in the mail’ McVie (Secretary). Steve, Sue, John, Jennifer looked after me until I got acclimatised, taking me to get my first pair of thongs, and a pair of stubby shorts , the basic uniform of the Aussie male in those days. Although you still see the uniform around, Phil Thompson another Pommy we played with still gets around in it to this day. In fact it was Phil that Mal Bland rang, and who told me of the Steve’s passing at an Easter Suburbs (formerly Merton East) reserves grand-final game at our home ground Heath Park. It was fitting Easts won the final on penalties in front of the’ pig pen’! And we had a few XXXX’s for Steve on the night. I always remember the Aussies having a go at Garby about the snakes, sharks and crocodiles. In the mid 1970’s they were still developing Heath Park. It is on a floodplain and it was inundated in the 1974 floods, and again just a couple of years ago. At that time the back field still had mangroves just behind the bottom goals, and the balls would inevitably end up in the mangroves. The Aussie guys (and some of the Poms!) would be onto Garby to get in and get the ball. There was no way in the world he was going after the ball! As you know you never ever got the last word with Garby when there was a bit of banter going on. It was great to have a personality like Garby’s in the dressing room; no matter the circumstances he would lighten the mood. The Aussies call it sledging, and you get respect if you give as good as you get, and Garby could certainly give it back. I feel it was inevitable you would return to Leeds, the call of family and friends was too strong. I met my wife Diana at Easts and stayed. Steve’s phone call set my life on a journey that I never could have imagined, and I’m thankful for that. Tom our son is now playing with Easts and has also met his girlfriend there! Unfortunately over time we lost contact when I went to live in central Queensland. I’m now back in Brisbane and it was a coincident on the morning before I heard Steve had passed away I drove passed the flat off Annerley Road where you lived. And I thought I should take a photo and send it over to you; I also went passed the flat where I lived in those early years. I hadn’t been there for over 30 years. Steve was a great and loyal friend, and deeply loved his family and his community. Garby represented everything that was good about the Miggy community, a welcoming community and a greater bunch of lads in the Inter Kiev team you couldn’t wish to meet. The memories are priceless, being picked up by Kenny Briggs in his Fiat Bambino to go to the games, getting changed under the golf club, where there was a maze of dark alcoves where teams would change. Then the walk down to the bottom field where we were very rarely beaten, and eventually picking up the Sunday League trophy. Steve will be sorely missed, but his legacy will remain and continue in his family and his community. I feel privileged to be a friend, and my memories of Steve are priceless and will be timeless. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. All our love. Chris, Diane and Tom Carroll