The funeral service of Union Mills Football Club chairman Vince Watkins takes place this Friday, at Douglas Crematorium, commencing 2pm.

He died at the age of 62 on November 11 in Wythenshawe Hospital where he had recently undergone further treatment for an ongoing heart condition originally diagnosed in 2003.

Vince was educated at Tynwald Street Infants and Demesne Road Primary School, then Ballakermeen Junior High School for Boys and finally St Ninian’s High School. He attended University of South Wales at Pontypridd.

He joined Fryers, Bell & Co as a chartered accountant before working for Ernst & Whinney in South Africa between 1983 and 1995, during which time the business became Ernst & Young.

Upon his return to the island he took up the position of chief financial officer at Hansard International and was instrumental in taking the business to full stock exchange listing in 2009.

Finally he joined Isle of Man Assurance (IOMA) in 2017 where he was appointed managing director, the position he held at the time of his death.

Vince was a fan of sport in general. He supported Tottenham Hotspur FC, Wales Rugby Union side (his father, Vincent Sr, is Welsh), England cricket, attending many international matches around the world, in all three sports, along with other big games and cup finals.

Actively, he was involved with Union Mills AFC originally as a member of the club’s Cowell Cup side (under-18s) in the mid-1970s.

He later became club captain, instigating social events and Easter weekend matches against Old Xaverians of Liverpool and tours to Wrexham.

The Boxing Day Hunt the Wren around the village, that the club still does to this day, was started by Vince and a few others back in the 1970s. As a result, many thousands of pounds have been raised for local charities.

On the field he was a solid and dependable centre-back or centre-half and was first team captain prior to Chris Cain, who took over the role for many years when Vince was in South Africa. Upon his return from South Africa in September 1995, he joined the committee and played an active role with general club management and development.

When Union Mills AFC had to vacate its long-time venue in the grounds of Ballamona (now Noble’s Hospital), Vince was instrumental, along with Kevin Cartledge and Stephen Carter, in the fundraising and design/construction of the new pitches and clubhouse at Garey Mooar (Ballaoates). This included the successful bid to the Football Foundation for a grant in excess of £370,000 which is still the largest award the foundation has made to any local club.

Work on the construction of a clubhouse began in 2004, the year that Vince took over the role of club chairman, which he continued until the time of his death. The new pitch was first used during the 2005-06 season.

Vince had a particular involvement with the TT campsite set-up annually within the football club’s extensive grounds. He looked after all the bookings and made a point of meeting everyone who came to camp. This resulted in many hundreds of fans returning year on year and friends of the club being made from all around the world.

His enthusiasm for life in general and sport in particular was infectious and he will be missed by many.

This season commemorates Union Mills AFC’s 100th year since it joined the Isle of Man football league. Its first official match was on November 4, 1920 against Colby AFC.

The season will culminate with a centenary dinner in May. With both senior teams currently topping their respective leagues it looks like it will be a season to remember and one that Vince would have been immensely proud of.

Even up to the final weekend before his death he was keeping up to date with the scores and commenting on the teams’ achievements from his hospital bed in Manchester.

Vince leaves a wife Judy, daughters Gabby and Fenella, and grandson Toren. Fittingly, a celebration of his life will take place at the football club soon after the service, with all attending encouraged to wear bright clothing and/or club colours.