I am back again with yet another amazing volunteer and their journey into the club they have dedicated so much of their time already! 

This time we speak to a bit of a jack of all trades who has found himself thrust into all sorts of roles, including donning the clubs mascot suit - some amazing commitment! 

Let's find out more together! 

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Name – Gary Lawson
Age – 56
Favourite team – Bishops Cleeve (after being a season ticket holder at MUFC and Espanyol, I lived
Occupation – Van Driver for Huws and Gray ( official sponsor of refs )
Thing I love about football – It’s ability to make men cry like babies
My football pet hate – Pinching space at throw ins, and the inability of linesmen to ever do anything about it.

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You started out just watching a mate play—did you ever expect to end up this involved?

Not in the slightest just went to support a friend, enjoyed the honesty of the game and being thanked for attending, then it just snowballed from there !!!

You seem to do a bit of everything—what part of it do you enjoy the most?

Enjoyment in everything that I do, mascot suit with the kids, welcoming the home and away players at the players entrance, being treated as an important part of the club, Chairman expressing thanks for everything you do, I enjoy being at the club when there’s nothing on just sitting outside looking over the club, whether it’s painting the stands, club house or helping behind the bar.

What’s it like being in charge of the players’ entrance and tunnel on matchdays? Running bingo night is a different vibe—how important is that side of the club community?

 I love watching the mascots have a kick around at half time. Welcoming the officials and warning them that regardless of the result well have a drink afterwards ( as long as they pay ). Bingo Night is fun, we’re very lucky that our manager Paul Colecotte ( ex Cheltenham Captain ) runs a meat wholesale business so the prizes for bingo are excellent, 12 games of Bingo with a great group of regulars who are starting to get my abuse (humour) and my relationship with my glamorous assistant ( who is mostly responsible for the worse cups of tea ever known ) and her 3 year old grandson who collects the winning tickets for checking, the night raises valuable funds that keeps the club able to function, in terms of community the club places itself at the heart of the community, we host the England walking Football team who manager is the father of the captain of our first team, 4 Adult teams, two female teams and in the region of 50 junior teams we also have disability football.

Have you got any funny or memorable stories from behind the scenes?

I have personally been responsible for having the gaffer sent off where the ref has mistaken my shouts for his. I also lent David May my mascots head for a video call just before he played in a legends game pre season. I also tripped up loosing the head and the mascots kicked it round the pitch !!!

When you’re cooking for players and officials, do you feel any pressure to deliver?

In terms of food part of my background is hospitality so cooking for 50 plus isn’t a problem, we cook for the first team the day before as mentioned with an excellent meat supplier were rarely troubled, chicken and curries, chilli’s etc are a staple.

How important are volunteers like yourself to keeping a club running smoothly?

I think volunteers are the heartbeat of good non league club, caring about the experience of others is the best way to improve the experience of everyone involved.

What’s something fans wouldn’t realise goes on behind the scenes on a matchday?

The level of preparation for a match day is unreal from food prep to ordering drinks, securing volunteers to make everything run smoothly, locking doors and gates to meet FA regulations. Filling Ice baths there’s untold things that are needed.

What’s kept you coming back and helping out week after week?

What keeps me coming back ? The hope of Glory for the team, being part of the team and the feeling of being wanted / needed.

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