Eli Day

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 9:45 am

Today gives us the opportunity to remember one of the best posters ever on the message board. As time goes on there are less of us who remember him and more that don't know him, but for those who do remember, this day 14 years ago, was one of the saddest for us on the message board with the passing of our dear friend David P Evans who we all knew as Eli.

My one regret was always not knowing him for longer than I did, it was a privilege to get to know him, chat with him on here, on the touchline at Gawthorpe and in the Bridge before home games. He introduced the West Yorkshire Luvvies, Postcards from T'Eejipt, he labelled me as top brass and decided that reb should be the first lady.

His humour was fantastic, his ability to diffuse all arguments with one post was legendary. I miss him.

My thoughts today are with 'Er Indoors (Yvonne), Simon & Bryn. It's hard for us to understand just how much you must miss him.

Dougall · Post by **Dougall** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 9:49 am

Never (to my knowledge) met Eli, but I share your sentiments, Tony.
Always respectful to other posters (though not averse to some gentle use of ridicule as a reprimand for poor behaviour?) I wonder what he'd have thought of some of the exchanges that we see now on this forum?

elwaclaret · Post by **elwaclaret** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 9:54 am

Fourteen years, really?
That is scary
It seemed more of a little social club than a message board back then, a lot of us got to know each other at games and functions.
Well done for keeping his memory Tony.
RIP Eli

jdrobbo · Post by **jdrobbo** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 9:54 am

A great guy and an inspiring person to talk to, as I headed into a career of teaching. I spoke to Eli regularly when I was training to be a teacher and at the start of my first year. I told him back then that I’d found a nice place to work and fourteen years on, I’m fortunate that I’ve had promotions and am still surrounded by a wonderful group of people. I know Eli would be happy about that.

He was fabulous company in the Bridge. His beer may tactics were something else. He ripped me and Damo to shreds at time, but he certainly thickened my skin a bit.

The story of Eli umpiring and deliberately not giving the batsman out, was a classic.

RIP David.

And yes, it’s now OK to resume hostilities!!

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 9:56 am

Dougall wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 30, 2020 9:49 am
Never (to my knowledge) met Eli, but I share your sentiments, Tony.
Always respectful to other posters (though not averse to some gentle use of ridicule as a reprimand for poor behaviour?) I wonder what he'd have thought of some of the exchanges that we see now on this forum?

He would have put a stop to the arguments.

One of my favourites was one day an argument was brewing and someone decided that he was hard done to because he wasn't in the supposed clique. It was beginning to boil over when Eli arrived and said clique was an interesting word. He said it could be found in the Oxford dictionary between climax and clitoris.

The argument was ended.

In the real world, he'd been a maths teacher (final school I believe was Gawthorpe), had played Lancashire League cricket for both Bacup and Nelson, was a Lancashire League umpire and also a very good local crown green bowler.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 9:58 am

jdrobbo wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 30, 2020 9:54 am

And yes, it’s now OK to resume hostilities!!

I'll explain that one. Back in the summer of 2006, just before we went to Italy for the pre-season, jdrobbo's then girlfriend dumped him and he wasn't at his best. Eli liked to poke fun at him so I thought it best to warn him. I phoned and explained the situation and he agreed he would lay off him for a while. After we returned from Italy, I received a phone call from Eli. He just said: "Is it safe to resume hostilities?"

mdd2 · Post by **mdd2** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 10:06 am

Never met him but he was an exceptional poster and must have been great in person. Amazed at the time since his passing and sadly with his passing he missed our promotions to the big time and the new MB

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 10:21 am

mdd2 wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 30, 2020 10:06 am
Never met him but he was an exceptional poster and must have been great in person. Amazed at the time since his passing and sadly with his passing he missed our promotions to the big time and the new MB

If I'm not mistaken I think he was 64 so would have been 78 now which suggests he became a Burnley fan probably very early 1950s. He saw all the glory years but such a shame that he didn't see any of the promotion seasons. I think he'd have loved Dyche.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 10:23 am

Some photos

1. Eli explaining the tactics in the Bridge before a home game, pint glasses strategically placed to show defensive formation

2. Competitors at our Eli Crown Green Bowling Day

3. The Eli Crown Green Bowling Day winner with 'Er Indoors.

: Eli.jpg (19.21 KiB) Viewed 4006 times

: Eli Golf Day Competitors.jpg (81.17 KiB) Viewed 4006 times

: Eli Golf Day Winner.jpg (86.23 KiB) Viewed 4006 times

TheFamilyCat · Post by **TheFamilyCat** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 10:42 am

I've often wondered, and maybe you'd know Tony, how well DP and Beeky knew each other.

Their paths would certainly have crossed at Seedhill.

A few hours together in their company would be entertaining to say the least.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 10:45 am

TheFamilyCat wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 30, 2020 10:42 am
I've often wondered, and maybe you'd know Tony, how well DP and Beeky knew each other.

Their paths would certainly have crossed at Seedhill.

A few hours together in their company would be entertaining to say the least.

Beeky knew him very well, probably through Nelson CC I would have thought. I can imagine even I wouldn't have got a word in with those two.

clarethomer · Post by **clarethomer** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 10:56 am

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 30, 2020 10:23 am
Some photos

1. Eli explaining the tactics in the Bridge before a home game, pint glasses strategically placed to show defensive formation

2. Competitors at our Eli Golf Day

3. The Eli Golf Day winner with 'Er Indoors.

Eli.jpg

Eli Golf Day Competitors.jpg

Eli Golf Day Winner.jpg

That middle pic would make me say that it was a bowling competition given I know one of the posters on here is on that picture and his brother who was a leeds fan and has since also passed away RIP Eli and RIP Big Dave.

Marney&Mee · Post by **Marney&Mee** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 11:04 am

did he not do some painting and decorating as well with Alan Palmer ?

durhamclaret · Post by **durhamclaret** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 11:20 am

clarethomer wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 30, 2020 10:56 am
That middle pic would make me say that it was a bowling competition given I know one of the posters on here is on that picture and his brother who was a leeds fan and has since also passed away RIP Eli and RIP Big Dave.

RIP Eli, met him very briefly in the Bridge pre match many years ago, by all the comments he seemed a top bloke indeed.
RIP Big Dave, I had no idea that he had passed away, when did this happen?

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 11:24 am

Marney&Mee wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 30, 2020 11:04 am
did he not do some painting and decorating as well with Alan Palmer ?

Alan Palmer was a long time friend of Eli and family. His son Ian was friends with Simon going back to school days. Alan was decorating my parents house at the end of October 2006 and when he turned up on the morning of 30 October broke the sad news. The Evans family lived 5 doors up from us from the day I was born and my mum and Yvonne remain good friends to this day.

I often read the postings of Eli and wondered who it was. Knowledgeable, intelligent and the driest of wits. It fell into place when photos of a pre match get together were posted and identities revealed. Eli was David Evans. It all made sense then. I think I last saw him on the day England win the rugby world cup and CM played CLC 5 a side away the Thompson centre. In the Bridge after the game Eli said I thought you weren't a fan of rugby? I'm not, hence playing football on the day England are in the final. Some of your challenges today would have been at home on a rugby pitch was his reply. A harsh but fair assessment i felt.

The saddest of days when he left us, great poster and great bloke. He is missed.

clarethomer · Post by **clarethomer** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 11:30 am

durhamclaret wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 30, 2020 11:20 am
RIP Eli, met him very briefly in the Bridge pre-match many years ago, by all the comments he seemed a top bloke indeed.
RIP Big Dave, I had no idea that he had passed away, when did this happen?

Hi Durham - I have just realised that there is a big dave on here - who I think is Inchy's father and from what I have read, he is not so big these days. This isn't the same Big Dave who did the paper reviews.

There were 2 Dave's within the friendship group, so we called one Little Dave and one Big Dave. Big Dave is Morpheus' s brother (Big Dave being the man on the far left of the pic) and he was a keen crown green bowler.

We forgave his Leeds allegiance and he would often come to the turf when there was a spare ticket going from our group. I can't for the life of me remember his 'forum' name on Clarets Mad but he did often come on and contribute.

I have never known Morpheus or Big Dave play golf - hence why I think there has been some confusion with that pic.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 11:31 am

clarethomer wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 30, 2020 10:56 am
That middle pic would make me say that it was a bowling competition given I know one of the posters on here is on that picture and his brother who was a leeds fan and has since also passed away RIP Eli and RIP Big Dave.

Not so sure why I wrote golf. Of course it was crown green bowling and I was knocked out of the competition by Eli's son Simon that day. It was at Ightenhill.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 11:32 am

Herts Clarets wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 30, 2020 11:24 am
Alan Palmer was a long time friend of Eli and family. His son Ian was friends with Simon going back to school days. Alan was decorating my parents house at the end of October 2006 and when he turned up on the morning of 30 October broke the sad news. The Evans family lived 5 doors up from us from the day I was born and my mum and Yvonne remain good friends to this day.

I often read the postings of Eli and wondered who it was. Knowledgeable, intelligent and the driest of wits. It fell into place when photos of a pre match get together were posted and identities revealed. Eli was David Evans. It all made sense then. I think I last saw him on the day England win the rugby world cup and CM played CLC 5 a side away the Thompson centre. In the Bridge after the game Eli said I thought you weren't a fan of rugby? I'm not, hence playing football on the day England are in the final. Some of your challenges today would have been at home on a rugby pitch was his reply. A harsh but fair assessment i felt.

The saddest of days when he left us, great poster and great bloke. He is missed.

If you recall Herts, it was you who texted me that morning to pass on the sad news and you then started the thread on the message board.

wilks_bfc · Post by **wilks_bfc** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 11:43 am

14 years? When I saw the thread title I was expecting you to say 10 at most.

Like most never met him, but like most via the board, felt like had a good insight to him as a person.

His posts were classics and like you said, he seemed to have the last word on most of them

Wonder what he’s make of the “Takeover from T'Eejipt“

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 11:53 am

wilks_bfc wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 30, 2020 11:43 am
14 years? When I saw the thread title I was expecting you to say 10 at most.

Like most never met him, but like most via the board, felt like had a good insight to him as a person.

His posts were classics and like you said, he seemed to have the last word on most of them

Wonder what he’s make of the “Takeover from T'Eejipt“

He would certainly have had something to say about it, that's a certainty.

durhamclaret · Post by **durhamclaret** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 12:12 pm

clarethomer wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 30, 2020 11:30 am
Hi Durham - I have just realised that there is a big dave on here - who I think is Inchy's father and from what I have read, he is not so big these days. This isn't the same Big Dave who did the paper reviews.

There were 2 Dave's within the friendship group, so we called one Little Dave and one Big Dave. Big Dave is Morpheus' s brother (Big Dave being the man on the far left of the pic) and he was a keen crown green bowler.

We forgave his Leeds allegiance and he would often come to the turf when there was a spare ticket going from our group. I can't for the life of me remember his 'forum' name on Clarets Mad but he did often come on and contribute.

I have never known Morpheus or Big Dave play golf - hence why I think there has been some confusion with that pic.

Thanks for clearing that up clarethomer

firstclaret · Post by **firstclaret** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 12:13 pm

Used to live next door in Nelson, I was only a kid at time my Dad used to mention him years after they had moved.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 1:35 pm

firstclaret wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 30, 2020 12:13 pm
Used to live next door in Nelson, I was only a kid at time my Dad used to mention him years after they had moved.

He left an impression and I bet your dad didn’t have a bad word for him.

firstclaret · Post by **firstclaret** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 2:14 pm

No he didn’t, sadly I have little recollection of him. Interestingly the family who moved in their son became a teacher too.

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 4:16 pm

firstclaret wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 30, 2020 2:14 pm
No he didn’t, sadly I have little recollection of him. Interestingly the family who moved in their son became a teacher too.

Where did you live next for to them? Quite possibly you may have been a neighbour....

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 4:20 pm

Herts Clarets wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 30, 2020 4:16 pm
Where did you live next for to them? Quite possibly you may have been a neighbour....

They lived next door I can confirm - I've just been speaking to 'Er Indoors who passes on her thanks for remembering Eli.

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 4:24 pm

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 30, 2020 4:20 pm
They lived next door I can confirm - I've just been speaking to 'Er Indoors who passes on her thanks for remembering Eli.

I know, curious to which address. I knew them from Belgrave St.

holycustard · Post by **holycustard** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 4:39 pm

I remember his list he had stuck on his computer lol

I think i was on it

Rip Eli

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 9:55 pm

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 30, 2020 11:32 am
If you recall Herts, it was you who texted me that morning to pass on the sad news and you then started the thread on the message board.

I do remember it well Tony. Wasnt long after he had been to distortion Dave's emporium to buy a lead for his travel kettle, as "tha's got to start the day with a reyt brew inside you". And then warned any watching Scousers away from his house whilst he was away.

bfcjg · Post by **bfcjg** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 10:12 pm

Great poster,witty,incisive,intelligent and imaginative can't believe it is 14 years.RIP.

whentheballmoves · Post by **whentheballmoves** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 10:15 pm

Knew David quite well via crown green bowling...he was a great bloke. 14 years has flown by on no time at all.
A much missed local personality.

firstclaret · Post by **firstclaret** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 11:36 pm

Yes Belgrave St.

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 11:56 pm

firstclaret wrote: ↑
Fri Oct 30, 2020 11:36 pm
Yes Belgrave St.

Guessing you are Wayne then? Mum and Dad Adele and Martin?

firstclaret · Post by **firstclaret** » Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:00 am

Yes and you?

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:09 am

Mark. Brothers Paul and Jarrod. 4 doors down from you I think back in the day

firstclaret · Post by **firstclaret** » Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:12 am

Suspected it was you, how are you?

firstclaret · Post by **firstclaret** » Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:12 am

About 10 doors down

firstclaret · Post by **firstclaret** » Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:14 am

Occasionally travelled on bus with Jarrod driving, but recently passed my test aged 46

Bin Ont Turf · Post by **Bin Ont Turf** » Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:15 am

Oh so you lot are the rough lot from Belgrave onwards. We were in the posh bit from Whitehall and Tavistock.

Did/do know Bryn, and it was only recently (last 5 years or so) that I come to know David was his Dad.

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:16 am

All good mate. Had the shock of my life the last time I visited and drove down Belgrave St.

firstclaret · Post by **firstclaret** » Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:17 am

Yeah my mum still lives there, separated from my dad.

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:18 am

Long time ago that wasnt it? I moved from there in 1992 and they weren't together then I don't think

firstclaret · Post by **firstclaret** » Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:18 am

I vaguely recall Simon, heard names Yvonne and D P Evans.

firstclaret · Post by **firstclaret** » Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:20 am

Think my dad finally moved out in 90 but had been apart from 86

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:21 am

Simon is a journalist with Reuters. Yvonne still alive and kicking and last time I saw him Bryn was the double of a brick outhouse...

firstclaret · Post by **firstclaret** » Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:24 am

Yeah, kinda realised it was same Simon Evans occasionally writes for Leader I think, and only recently discovered that D P Evans was Eli.

TheFamilyCat · Post by **TheFamilyCat** » Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:27 am

Herts Clarets wrote: ↑
Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:21 am
Simon is a journalist with Reuters. Yvonne still alive and kicking and last time I saw him Bryn was the double of a brick outhouse...

I was at primary school with Bryn, he was the double of a brick outhouse then!

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:29 am

So you will know our arch enemy from growing up. The pillock with the CB radio and dogs that resemble lambs....

firstclaret · Post by **firstclaret** » Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:31 am

Yes my mum had relationship with him.

Bin Ont Turf · Post by **Bin Ont Turf** » Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:32 am

TheFamilyCat wrote: ↑
Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:27 am
I was at primary school with Bryn, he was the double of a brick outhouse then!

Was it St John's?