ROBIN OSBORNE

Hampshire FA's President (and former Chair), Robin Osborne, passed away peacefully on Thursday afternoon after a long battle with ill health.

Robin’s first involvement in football was in December 1962 when he qualified as a referee whilst living in Northampton before moving to Leicestershire and progressing to referee on the Midland Counties Football League.

Robin remained an active referee with Leicestershire & Rutland FA continuously until 1988/89 and received a 20 year long service award from the county in 1984 whilst also serving the Loughborough Referees Society from 1974 to 1984 holding posts as Treasurer and Vice Chairman and also representing Loughborough on the Leicestershire & Rutland County Referees Committee.

Whilst based in Leicestershire, Robin also became involved with Birstall Community College Youth FC (where his Son’s played) managing junior teams from Under 10 to Under 13 between 1981-84.

After moving to the South Coast, Robin was appointed Auditor of Bournemouth Divisional FA in 1991 and was also elected as a BDFA Council Member before being elected to Hampshire FA Council in 1995 and then as BDFA Treasurer in 1996, a role he held until 2001 when he was elected as Treasurer (Finance Director) of Hampshire FA Ltd.

During this time, Robin also joined Christchurch FC in 1996 serving as Chairman 1998-2001 returning in recent years as the club’s President.

Robin is the only person in Hampshire FA’s history to have held all four Officer roles having been elected as Treasurer (Finance Director) in 2001 at a time when Hampshire FA became a limited company, then onto Deputy Chairman in 2013, Chairman in 2014 and was appointed President in 2019.

Robin was one of football’s good guys and he will be sorely missed. All at the Wessex Football League are saddened to learn of Robin’s passing, and our thoughts and condolences are with his wife Gail and his family.

As a mark of respect, a minute’s silence will be held at all Hampshire FA Cup Finals this season.

Further details will be confirmed in due course.