Whilst many in the Hockey section may not know of Dave Shuttleworth, if you enjoy our excellent playing facilities and on site artificial pitches, you owe a huge debt of gratitude to the man that had the vision, belief and drive to help transform hockey at THC by the building of our first artificial turf pitch back in the early 1980's. Take a moment to reflect on the life and legacy of Dave Shuttleworth and his contribution to the club we all enjoy today.

TSC is deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of David Shuttleworth, member for over 50 years, our Patron, former President and Chair, at the weekend following a brief illness. Our thoughts and condolences are with the Dave's family and friends at this difficult time. His devoted wife Christine, son James, daughter Anna and Grandchildren, Owen, Martha, Oliver and Eve.

Many may not be aware of the huge contribution Dave made to the club that we know today including his pivotal role in the introduction of an artificial turf to Stockport Rd in the 1980's. His vision, tenacity and drive helped make the club what it is today and how we have developed to be the only club in the NW to have two ATP's. See below shared reflections from Col Taylor of Dave and his involvement with TSC.

Dave was also a passionate pioneer for his sport Lacrosse on and off the field, helping not only develop Timperley Lacrosse but the sport nationally and internationally including as CEO of England Lacrosse. See the link to the tribute from England Lacrosse below. Until recently Dave was seen on the lacrosse pitch sidelines sharing his wisdom for all things and supporting his son James, in the A team and grandson Owen in the 1st team.

The family are planning a celebration of Dave's probably in the early new year and there will be no funeral service. Minutes Silence are planned for Remembrance this weekend and will include the opportunity to share a moments reflect for Dave, his family and friends and all he did to help make Timperley Sports Club what it is today.

Remembering Dave Shuttleworth

You could start a conversation with Dave Shuttleworth about almost any aspect of sport, professional or grassroots and would quickly know that you were dealing with a coherent, reasoned opinion from someone who had spent a lot of time figuring it out. He was fascinated as much by the mechanics that lay behind it as well as the skill on display.

After an introduction to Lacrosse at William Hulme’s Grammar School, and then Oxford University, Dave ended up in London and represented England at the first World Lacrosse Championship’s at Toronto in 1967. After marrying Christine, he returned to this part of the world to join the family shopfitting business in the early 70s. Whilst applying for a Business bank loan, he got chatting to the bank manager, Rodney Paulson, who was one of the key drivers behind Chorlton Lacrosse Club’s recent move to Timperley Cricket, Hockey and Tennis Club and re-launch as Timperley Lacrosse Club. They were on the look-out for new, good Lacrosse players and he was offered the bank loan provided he joined Timperley and so….that was that.

His obvious ability to articulate and propose practical solutions inevitably led him to becoming Chair of our club in 1979, a position he would retain for ten years. During that time, he convinced the then Northwest Sports Council and the Clubs brewery to invest £100,000 in what was then an untried radical new concept… an ‘artificial turf pitch’ ! It transformed the club’s business model as mid-week hire’s and bar revenue quickly mushroomed. Timperley Hockey Club became the first club in the country have its own on site ‘astro’….. courtesy of a Lacrosse player.

After leaving the Chair’s role in 1988/89 he was elected an Honorary Life Member and ‘moved upstairs’ to become our Club President. At the same time, he also became the Chief Executive of the English Lacrosse Union. He initiated the merger with the All England Womens Lacrosse Association and the new governing body for the sport, The English Lacrosse Association was born. Dave’s strategy was to build the visibility of Lacrosse in schools and he set up a programme whereby USA based player-coaches joined English Lacrosse clubs who would then deliver lacrosse coaching in schools.

He established the World u19 Championships and in 1994 he was instrumental in bringing the senior World Lacrosse Championships to Manchester, something he repeated in 2010, just before retiring.

Only a month or two ago he graciously accepted an invitation from the TSC Board, and approved at the AGM, for him to become Patron of Timperley Sports Club and its particularly sad that he didn’t have the time to develop that role as he would have wanted to.

He and I first worked together in 1991/92 when as a keen but naive hockey member we negotiated a deal with Trafford to install a second pitch (now known as Green pitch) at Timperley and I realised just how pragmatic and informed he was. He knew that if grassroots sports clubs were to survive, then they would have to search out new revenue streams and establish commercial partnerships with other agencies towards mutual objectives.

He was the bridge from a time when sports clubs were not really expected to look much further ahead than trying not to make an annual loss to one much more reflective of what we have today; a sports club which actively looks for partnerships with other agencies and which is able to continually re-invest surpluses in our facilities. I hope he did come to understand that legacy and how critically important it was and still is, to Timperley Sports Club.

Many of us who knew Dave, are going really to miss those conversations..

Col Taylor

Tribute from England Lacrosse: https://www.englandlacrosse.co.uk/news/former-england-lacrosse-ceo-amp-pioneer-in-the-sport-david-shuttleworth-dies