Season › 2018-19 › News Reverend Harry Ross passes away Saturday, 29 June, 2019 15comments | Jump to most recent Former Chaplain to Goodison Park, Harry Ross, has sadly died today the age of 78, following a long illness. Harry served as the official club Chaplain for 25 years and was the vicar at St Luke The Evangelist, the famous church that stands in the corner of Goodison Park, from 1977 until retirement nine years ago. Prior to joining the church, Reverend Ross was a mathematics teacher at St George of England High School in Bootle and was also a lay reader. Reader Comments (15) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Rob Halligan 1 Posted 29/06/2019 at 13:32:32 I met him a couple of times and he showed me round the garden of remembrance. RIP Harry. A true Blue. John G Davies 2 Posted 29/06/2019 at 15:45:40 Great Blue. Went to a funeral if a great Evertonian a while back. Harry left nobody in doubt as to where his allegiance lay. John Audsley 3 Posted 29/06/2019 at 16:36:33 Very sad news, all my love to his family. Derek Knox 4 Posted 29/06/2019 at 16:39:42 I never actually met him personally, but all who did had glowing testimonials of him as being both a true blue and an excellent gentleman and human being.Sadly missed, but never forgotten, you'll have a prime seat in the New Stadium above. Stuart Tolen 5 Posted 29/06/2019 at 17:12:41 Great man and a committed Evertonian. He graciously performed both funerals for my parents and our family will always be grateful to him. Rest in peace, Harry and reminisce with your Everton heroes you loved so much. Once a blue, always a blue. Si Smith 6 Posted 29/06/2019 at 17:45:35 Sad news, really decent guy, I lived in Gwladys Street for a few years, he knocked over a few times to let us know when the legends were in his halls, so as the kids could go over and meet them.RIP 🙠Ray Roche 7 Posted 29/06/2019 at 17:51:42 Spoke to him several times when I'd go for a cuppa before the match. A real gent. Tony Hill 8 Posted 29/06/2019 at 17:58:14 We've lost a few good ones now. A fine man and a fine Blue. RIP. Steve Ferns 9 Posted 29/06/2019 at 18:36:32 Sad to hear about the passing of any blues. There's also the death of a former steward as reported on the official site:Everton Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Clive Betteridge, a popular Matchday Steward at Goodison for more than 35 years.Clive died aged 65 in a tragic holiday accident while walking in the mountains on the border of France and Andorra this week.He was a well-known matchday steward with Evertonians and a passionate supporter of the Club. After working in the Bullens Road stand for more than two decades, Clive was promoted to the role of Head Steward of Customer Satisfaction before his retirement in 2018.Dave Lewis, Everton's Head of Security and Stadium Safety Officer, said: "I first knew Clive back when he worked as a Matchday Steward in the Bullens Road stand. Due to his excellent people's skills he was promoted to Head Steward of Customer Satisfaction, a position he served with passion and dedication until his retirement last year.“Clive was a pleasure to work with. He was a proud Evertonian who always saw good in people and made fans' matchday experience all the better with a bright smile and his warm nature.“He was one of life's good people and will be sorely missed by everyone at the Club.â€Clive also volunteered at St Bartholomew's church, in Roby, for the past 30 years and worked as a Sunday school teacher, choir master and was part of the church band.The thoughts of Everton are with Clive's family and friends at this sad time. Karl Masters 10 Posted 29/06/2019 at 21:51:08 Condolences to all family and friends of Harry and Clive. Reading about these two selfless Evertonians restores your faith in human nature. Paul Birmingham 11 Posted 29/06/2019 at 22:41:07 I met Harry a few times and I've helped out a few times in the tea room at St Luke's across the years, but Harry was a great Evertonian and man of faith. His banter and positiveness was always a boost.Another Evertonian gone to the Street End in the Sky, and sadly I read late tonight, also of the passing of EFC steward Clive Betteridge.RIP Harry and Clive and deepest condolences to their families at this terrible time. David France 12 Posted 30/06/2019 at 00:39:47 I've had the privilege of knowing Harry for decades. To me, he was much more than a friend or a man of the cloth or a life-long Evertonian – he was someone my wife and I could trust during my battles with life-threatening illness. He was an inspiration. Harry loved Everton Football Club and made St Luke the Evangelist church a special place on Saturdays as well as Sundays. He was one of the original trustees of The Everton Former-Players' Foundation and while we were all committed to repairing the bodies and improving the lives of our heroes, Harry possessed a rare talent – pastoral care. He was available 24 hours per day and devoted to counseling and providing emotional support to them. Together we changed the lives of in excess of 100 former-players as well as our own. John G Davies 13 Posted 30/06/2019 at 07:40:21 A beautiful eulogy, David. Si Smith 14 Posted 30/06/2019 at 15:43:09 Fantastic comments, Dave. Jack Convery 15 Posted 30/06/2019 at 19:09:52 RIP Harry and have a word with your guvnor to cancel the contract the RS have with Old Nick. Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. About these ads