Yahoo News 'He was Nuneaton' say grieving family of 'Boro legend loved by everyone'
The grieving family of one of Nuneaton Boro's biggest fans say they have been 'flabbergasted' by the outpouring of love following his shock death. Alan Hudson dedicated his whole life to his beloved hometown football club,
"He was Nuneaton," his sister Tina Donnachie-Jones told CoventryLive. "The Boro was his life." The 55-year-old sadly passed away, suddenly, more than a week ago and she said that they are all still struggling to come to terms with their loss.
"His smile was infectious , his laugh was infectious, and his silly jokes," she said ."I have made a cup of tea and gone to phone him, as I would usually, and I know I can't. It is so hard - we are all still in shock."
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She said that her brother was devoted to the 'Boro'. "He even missed my wedding as it was on a Saturday and the Boro were playing," she said. "Any family occasion, if it was on a Saturday, he would never come until later so that he could go to the game."
Mrs Donnachie-Jones explained: "He was devastated when we lost our mum in 2019, they were ever so close and then he was devastated again when he lost the Boro. It was his life."
But he was looking forward to the revival of his beloved team, under the name of Nuneaton FC. However, the new club will be missing a vital part - Alan, who lived in High Street.
Fellow Boro fans, former managers and players lined up to pay tribute to him and his efforts for his beloved club, be it as a steward, volunteer or the friendly face at the hoardings where he proudly placed flags. Their words and those of so many others have provided comfort to the family.
"I didn't know just how well-known he was," Tina said. "I knew he knew a lot of people but everyone knew him around the town.
"It has been difficult as so many people are missing him, it is not just his close family and friends, but the whole community because everyone knew him. It is such a nice feeling to know that he meant so much to so many people."
Testament to this is the thousands of pounds that have been donated in his name. A fundraising page hit its first target within the first 48 hours, much to the shock of his family. "We just can't believe it," his sister. "We are flabbergasted."
"We were planning on giving him the best send off we could, but people have been amazing, so generous. They want to give Alan the send-off he really deserves."
This fundraising continues by the people he loved, at the places he loved. Tina explained that Lucky Break Bentley Road Pool and Sports Bar is hosting a special pool tournament in his honour this Saturday because he was a well-known and liked pool player in a number of teams.
The Lord Hop, where he was a regular, is also selling 'baby Guinesses' in his honour, with all of the money being given to the fund. "The barmaid told me that he always joked with her that she didn't know how to make them properly," she said.
"Now she has perfected them and they are donating the money from every baby Guinness they sell to him." Most pubs in town have been running black-outs too to raise money and the first winner was, spookily, Chelsea, Mr Hudson's nickname.
"The lads were freaked out - they couldn't believe it," she said. "It was like he was looking down on them, having a laugh with them."
His funeral details have yet to be finalised but the family hope to have one special feature. Mrs Donnachie-Jones lives in Borough Way - the housing estate built on the former Nuneaton Boro's Manor Park Ground.
"We are hoping he will be able to leave from here in Borough Way so he will be going from the old Boro to the new one as Liberty Way is so close to the crem. That seems fitting," she said.
Anyone who would like to donate to the GoFundMe page for his funeral can do so online here.
