‘If you heard his laugh but couldn’t see him, you would know it was Sid’: tributes pour in after the death of March Town legend Sid Garratt
Former March Town footballer Sid Garratt has passed away, aged 84. - Credit: Archant
Tributes have been paid to local sportsman and ‘great socialiser’ Sid Garratt, who died last month, aged 84.
Sid Garratt (left) pictured here at March Town's 125th anniversary in 2011. - Credit: Archant
The well-known Fenland figure passed away on Monday January 25, following a battle with Alzheimer’s.
Mr Garratt’s family, friends and former team mates remembered the former footballer at his funeral at St Peter’s Church, March, on Tuesday February 9.
Mr Garratt was known for his time as a professional footballer, where he chalked up appearances for Peterborough United and Northampton Town. However, he was best known for his days at March Town United, where he was part of the side that took on Brentford in the first round of the FA Cup in 1956 in front of 17,000 spectators.
The defender had a brief stint at Wisbech Town before an ankle injury forced him to retire in the early 1960s. Sid then turned his attentions towards management; taking over at the helm of Parsons Drove FC in the 1965/66 season.
Sid Garratt (centre) in action for Peterborough United. - Credit: Archant
Garratt steered Parsons Drove to unrivalled success, helping the club to five successive Peterborough Premier League titles.
In 1972, he returned to March Town United - this time as manger - replacing Peter McNamee. Garratt couldn’t replicate his success at Parsons Drove as Hares boss, famously saying: “I was not the best manager they have ever had, but I won’t have been the worst either.”
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He then went on to manage Doddington United in 1974 through to 1977, where he helped them gain successive promotions to the top-flight of the Peterborough Football League, before retiring from the sport in 1977.
Sid was also a keen bowler, winning the singles final at the G.E.R. in March and also representing Cambridgeshire in the semi-finals of the Liberty Cup.
Mr Garratt, who held a season ticket at Peterborough United before his death, is remembered by his wife Jean, his daughter Denise, sister Rosie, brother in-law Dennis, son in-law Den, his two grandsons Lee and Dan and his great grandchildren Isabella, Jasmine and Ruby.
His grandson, Lee Brownlow, said: “Sid was a great socialiser and had many friends all over the country, as well as in March.
“We have constantly been reminded as a family that he was one of the town’s great characters. If you heard his laugh but couldn’t see him, you would know it was Sid, and if you were involved in conversation with Sid and got him laughing, you would often come away bruised from his strong pats on the back.”
