Whitby Town Football Club have celebrated their hundredth anniversary with a special centenary dinner that raised over £1,000 for the club, featuring an appearance from legendary former manager Harry Dunn.
Whitby Town FC have proudly marked a hundred years of local sporting history with a special centenary dinner, successfully raising a four-figure sum to help support the long-term future of the football club.
The celebratory event, which was held this past Saturday, provided a significant financial boost to the '1926 club'. The dedicated fundraising initiative, which takes its name in honour of the year the Blues were officially formed, was boosted by over £1,000 on the night as supporters and club legends gathered to mark the milestone. The club also held a successful auction with a professional auctioneer on the mic.
Among the esteemed attendees celebrating the centenary were stars of the 1965 Amateur Cup final side like Eddie Barker and Maurice Crossthwaite, plus one of the club's most successful ever managers, Harry Dunn. Dunn, who also enjoyed a playing career that featured a stint for Scarborough FC, where he inserted a random A initial to differentiate himself from team-mate namesake Harry Dunn, remains a highly revered and popular figure on the Yorkshire Coast.
He is still widely recognised by residents in Whitby after famously guiding the team to a historic FA Vase and Northern League double during the unforgettable 1996/97 season. He also won promotion the NPL Premier a year later, where the club have been ever since. He also guided Town to the FA Cup First Round on three occasions. His achievements cemented his legacy at the club and he remains a passionate follower of their progress today.
Reflecting on the current state of the club, their financial position in a competitive league, and their prospects for the season, Dunn shared his thoughts on their performance and his hopes for a successful cup run under current boss Lee Bullock:
"If you look at the place tonight, it doesn't look as though they've had hard times. It looks as though you know, I would think the end of the day, you think what a good season. Big run in the cup, we've done this and done that. So it's not downbeat by any manner, it's not downbeat and they shouldn't be. We are punching above the weight, we all know that, you know. There's clubs in this league with big budgets and Lee is going to have an awful hard job on his hands, but I'm certain he'll do okay. I would just like to see the club get another good win in the FA Cup. and to bring a few people to the club and hopefully just push on from there because, as a supporter, you know, we love the FA Cup. We love it, and it's great for supporters. And hopefully if they can get the right people in, it might happen this year."
The legendary manager was joined by those who played under him like Graeme Williams and Kenny Goodrick. He also spoke about his deep personal connection to the coastal town and how much he appreciates the ongoing warmth and support from the local community:
"I think the main thing is, we all love Whitby. We love Whitby, with the followers of Whitby is a football club all over the town, I think the town's people have taken me to their heart and and what have you. I thoroughly enjoy coming down to Whitby and doesn't matter where I go, somebody will come and thank me and to be perfectly honest, sometimes it's embarrassing. Cause to be honest with you, the last time I was down at Whitby, a lad came over who was in public with his family and he came and thanked us for what I did and I didn't honestly know what to say. I just, you're coming here to do a job. We did the best we could and I'm just happy that we did as much as what we could for the town."
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