When you think of Bristol Rovers Supporters Club Jim Chappell immediately comes to mind. As Jim announces his retirement it is only right that we pay tribute to the enormous part he has played for over 50 years to the Supporters Club that was his life and soul.
Everyone connected with the Supporters Club would like to say “thank you Jim” and he departs with our very best wishes for the future. Jim will, of course, still be around the place as a supporter and his wise counsel will be of inestimable value to our new committee.
Jim first surfaced in the mid 1960s when, already a Supporters Club member, he became one of Gordon Bennett’s legendary Hooter Boys who watched games from the South Enclosure at Eastville. The Hooter Boys evolved into the Pirates and Jim soon became their secretary, and the collaboration between the Pirates, the Football Club and the Supporters Club Executive brought about great results. From there becoming Chair of the Supporters Club was a natural progression.
When compiling a tribute like this it is best to ask those you knew him best and longest, and Phil Draper was the obvious choice. Phil says:
“How do you sum up over 60 years of volunteering for a football club? Jim Chappell is a remarkable individual who has given so much of his time to ensure that the supporter experience is a good one. I have never known BRSC without Jim, from Chairman of the Pirates in the early days at Eastville to Chair of the main club for thirty years. When the Dunfords took the club to Twerton Park, it was Jim who hitched up the mobile shop to his car and towed it to the Twerton Park car park for every game in all weathers, and returned it to Fry’s chocolate factory long after most fans were back home in Bristol. He converted and outfitted three cabins for use on matchdays, one at the Bath End terrace at Twerton Park and two at The Mem by the Blackthorn turnstiles. He was also responsible for obtaining the current BRSC shop in its more prominent position in the car park. He is the SC’s Mr Fix-it, and I remember Janet Wooster and myself debating about throwing out pieces of wood that Jim had collected for several years that were stored in the first shop!