Legendary Glentoran striker Ron “Yorkie” Manley was this weekend commemorated in the most appropriate manner by hid friends in the Holland family.
Ron sadly passed away in June 2018, a deeply sad occasion for his legions of friends and admirers in the Glentoran Family. Louise Sewell, Ron’s god daughter, and her husband Thomas Holland, who grew up alongside the Manley family, manage the ball boys and ball girls at the Oval on matchdays. Last year they named their baby son Korey Ron Holland after Ron, a close family friend for many years until his sad loss.
For a first birthday surprise, Thomas had the idea of buying a lorry for Korey as Ron was well known for being a lorry driver. In fact, his “Yorkie” nickname stemmed from his career and the famous seventies television advertisement for the Yorkie chocolate bar’
Thomas designed the art work for the toy lorry in Glentoran colours and with the cabin designed in a very warm tribute to Ron, both he and Louise agreed that they must have this made for Korey. Thomas approached Think Sign and Print in Carryduff and the team there were more than happy to oblige.
Louise’s dad Thomas Sewell, Glentoran’s club photographer and Chairman of the Ballymac GSC, was a lifelong friend of Yorkie and on Friday – five days before Korey’s birthday, Thomas and Louise surprised him with his first view of the lorry.
A great family tribute to a great Glentoran hero.