Haydn Green RIP

Type into Google the name of Haydn Green and you will find stories about a man who managed Hull City in the 1930s, about an engineer in the Second World War and about one of the chiefs of Ofsted, the organisation that inspects Secondary schools all over the country.

Somewhere in among them, you can find a handful of articles written about Haydn Green, the Nottinghamshire man who saved the club in 2003 and, most recently, 'sold' it back to its supporters. Not once, can you find a single interview.

Google the name of Derek Pavis and the first five pages are exclusively full of stories about the former Notts County Chairman - who has a stand at Meadow Lane named in his honour - on a full-range of issues ranging from various bickerings both over on and off-the-field issues, tributes paid by supporters for what he has done for this club and, of course, guides and facts about his stand.

There is no justice. But Green would have had it no other way.

Here was a rare, almost totally one-off commodity in the increasingly ego-driven millionaires' playground world of professional football.

We will always be grateful

Green put-in over £3million of his own money in September 2003, when many at the club had given up hope of survival. Green, a lifelong fan, had seen the endless bucket collections, the tireless work of supporters and realised it was the only way that he, and thousands of others, would be able to watch the Football Club he loved.

A grand gesture but the true sign of the man was not only putting in the money itself, but remaining anonymous afterwards. Here was a chance to become a true Notts County hero, a true Notts County legend - but Green didn't care for that, he just wanted to keep the club alive.

When Green was eventually unmasked ten months later, it almost slipped completely under the radar. The football team was signing new players, you see.

But, at least with his name in the public domain, it allowed us to properly thank him and, now, to fully appreciate his legacy.

Green never once sat on the Notts County board. He completely shunned the limelight. Only a tiny handful of people who regularly watch the Magpies would have recognised him. Unlike Pavis, it is impossible to find a picture of him on the internet.

He never interfered in club matters, leaving his shares in the capable hands of Andrew Rigby and, of course, the Supporters Trust. The same Supporters Trust that he would later leave in charge of the Football Club, just as he had initially hoped. His desire to see the club owned by its fans was such that he even lent them the money to buy his own shares!

It was yet another gesture that spoke volumes for a man that, undisputably, was a true great.

The term legend is given out all too easily in almost every aspect of modern-day life, but Haydn Green was a true legend, who - despite his upmost modesty - will never be forgotten by Notts County supporters.

He was a man who, genuinely, was Notts County through and through. On the rare occasions when we were able to have a conversation he could talk endlessly about every aspect of the club from the current team, to the current board and, even, the Notts County MAD messageboard, which he would read regularly.

Green may have shunned the limelight but, during his lifetime, he did something that was truly amazing. He deserves to go down in Notts County history. Over to you Jeff Moore and co, this man's name deserves to live on above a Notts County Stand.

Because without Green there would be no Stand. There would be no pitch. Every single person on the payroll at the Football Club and every single supporter has a reason to be eternely grateful to Haydn Green, who produced a rare act of kindness that will never be forgotten. He may have gone, but his legacy will always live-on.

Thankyou, Haydn. Thankyou so much.