Football chairman Sandra Gordon to defy illness
Jan 9 2009 by Neil Mckay, The Journal
THE Norths only woman football chairman has vowed to continue at the helm despite her battle against ill health.
Sandra Gordon works in a full-time job as manager of a residential home, is a wife and mother-of-two and also chairs Tow Law Town football club.
Despite having the debilitating illness multiple sclerosis Sandra, 51, from Consett, County Durham, remains determined to oversee the fortunes of the club she describes as a labour of love.
Tow Law, who play in the first division of the Skilltrainingltd Northern League, are the team where former Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland and England star Chris Waddle began his career.
The clubs long and proud history includes an appearance at Wembley in 1998 to contest the FA Vase final, and the defeat of then Third Division Mansfield Town in the FA Cup in 1967. It was the 1998 FA Vase appearance which cemented Sandras love for the club.
She explained: My son, Sam, was 10 at the time and we could not get him tickets to St Jamess Park to see Newcastle United. There were none available.
So my husband John, who has relatives in Tow Law, suggested we take him there. They also play in black and white, which is a help. We were accepted immediately and Sam became mascot, leading the team out at Wembley in the final of the FA Vase in May 1998. I caught the football bug. It is more enjoyable watching at this level, you are more involved. I have been to a couple of matches at St Jamess Park but you feel so removed from the action there.
Catching the football bug is one thing, but running the club is another. Sandra is quick to point out that she is helped by treasurer Kevin McCormick and secretary Steve Moralee.
It is a real team effort, but it does take up a lot of time.
On match days at home I find that I miss quite a lot of the game because I am helping to organise the teas for the players and officials, the expenses for the team and lots of other things. I see more of the play at away games. But I do love the club and I love being involved. So long as the players are trying their best you cannot ask for any more. You can tell by their body language whether they are trying or not.
Money, or lack of it, is always going to be a problem, but at Tow Law we are very much a village club. I only wish more locals would turn out to watch us.
One thing in our favour is that we do have a loyal and hard-working committee which keeps the club afloat.
The last chairman, Harry Hodgson, was here for 35 years.
I am sure I wont be here that long, but I am determined to keep going as long as my health allows.
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