Woodhouse remembers David Goldring

Dated: 12 October 2016

On Wednesday 5th October, recently deceased Woodhouse alumnus David Goldring, from Whetstone, was remembered and celebrated for his services to the local footballing community with the unveiling of a memorial Blue Plaque on the grounds of Woodhouse College, North Finchley dedicating its recently installed 3G football pitch in his name.

Mick Kelly delivers a tribute to David

David’s wife Delia, their children Simon and Louise, along with friends and Woodhouse staff and students assembled to watch his team Old Woodhouseians Football Club play a match against the current Woodhouse College football team on the pitch where right up until his sudden passing in June he trained every week with his team.

Chair of governors Ian Phillips officiated the unveiling and Mick Kelly (friend and Old Woodhouseians Hon. Secretary) spoke of David's long relationship with Woodhouse, saying...

"It’s brilliant that the College are naming the 3G pitch after David seeing as he spent virtually every Tuesday evening there, during the football season, putting us through our paces! I really hope that naming the pitch after him will inspire generations of current and future students to carry on playing football, or any other sport, once they leave Woodhouse and do so for over 40 years like David did!"

Ian Philips and Simon Goldring unveil the blue plaque

Simon Goldring (David’s Son and Old Woodhouseians Treasurer) said...

"My dad was passionate, dedicated and committed to the Old Woodhouseians Football Club and furthering amateur football. His connection with Woodhouse College lasted over 50 years and continued to his dying day; taking training sessions at the college every Tuesday evening; seeking to encourage current and former college students to play amateur football; and his unwavering support for my mum as a governor of the college.

It is a great honour that the College have decided to name the new 3G pitch after him - it would have made him very proud."

David was at Woodhouse School from 1966 – 1973, and represented the school at a number of sports including cricket and football. He also excelled academically, winning a maths award in the sixth form for the highest combined mark for pure and applied maths. He was a popular and well-known student with a good sense of humour and performed in a number of the school’s dramatic productions. It was at Woodhouse that he met his future wife and current Woodhouse governor Delia.

David Goldring

Soon after leaving school he joined Old Woodhouseians FC (the school’s old boys football club) in 1974. He sat on the Club’s Committee from 1977 holding a number of roles including Fixtures Secretary, Honorary Secretary as well as Captaining a number of sides, before becoming the Chairman of the Club in 1990 (a position he held until his death), as well as becoming Chairman of the Amateur Football Combination and a Life Vice-President of the Amateur Football Alliance.

Cliff Holding (contemporary Woodhouse School student of David’s and long-time OWFC player) said...

"I knew David since our schooldays at Woodhouse and he was inspiration and friend to me, as he was to so many current and former members of Old Woodhouseians FC as a player, Captain and an official of the club."

David was a major driving force at Old Woods – he drove goal nets, corner flags and balls to matches each Saturday, readied the pitches to make sure matches could be played and, in his last season, he also cooked food for the opposition every week. He organised and ran all the Club’s training sessions at Woodhouse College every Tuesday evening.

Old Woods and New Woods line up before the match

Principal John Rubinstein said...

"Woodhouse College is a large, extended family; our students know that once a Woodhouse student, always a Woodhouse student. David Goldring represents the best of all of us, committed to the community and wanting to ‘give back’. His wife, Delia, is also an ex-Woodhouse student, and she is one of our most valuable governors. Our thoughts remain with her and the family as we mark David’s passing and give tribute to his contribution and memory."

As for the memorial match played after the unveiling - Old Woods v Woodhouse College - the game was played with great sporting spirit and enthusiasm. and refereed by our very own assistant caretaker Bob Salter.

The final score was an impressive 7-1 to Old Woods. We think David would have been very pleased with that.

You can see more photos of the match in our Flickr album here

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