The Tony O'Toole Pavilion
In the 135 years that we have existed, the club has had a number of different pavilions. The first pavilion was sited in the North-West corner of the ground, close to where the maintenance shed is today and where the new cricket nets are planned to go.
In 1939 it was agreed to build a new pavilion near to where the Village Hall now stands. However, the outbreak of the Second World War meant that its first use was to accommodate families from Coventry whose homes had been destroyed in the frequent bombing raids.
After the war ended that pavilion fulfilled its intended purpose, serving the club – even including the first introduction of a bar in 1962 and a complete dismantling and rebuilding later that same year.
Roll forward to 1989 and the demise of the Leek Wootton Working Men’s Club. Whilst this was a sad event for its members, thanks to some quick thinking and bargaining, it proved to be a boon to LWSC...
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On a wet October evening the clubhouse was purchased for the grand sum of £5,000 and so began a very busy period of construction activity overseen by club stalwart Tony O’Toole.
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With financial support arranged by Stan Williams and Tony Rowlings, Tony and a small band of helpers (including his son Tim), worked tirelessly to build the pavilion as we know it today.
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On 20th July 1990, just 9 months after work had begun, the club held an official opening ceremony for the club house as we know and love it today. This was a phenomenal effort from all involved and it is no exaggeration to say that Leek Wootton Sports Club would have struggled to survive to this point had it not been for the efforts of Tony and his helpers.
Of course Tony, or “Totty” to his friends (which includes pretty much anyone who has ever met him), did not stop there. He continued to work tirelessly to improve and enhance the club – always managing to find willing volunteers to support. In 2023, despite ill health, Totty even refurbished all of the tables in the main bar.
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That was why we were so happy that on Friday 19th July 2024, a day under 34 years since that opening ceremony, we were able to honour his incredible contribution to our club when we officially renamed the clubhouse “The Tony O’Toole Pavilion”.
Unfortunately his health has declined further since then, but Tony is in the thoughts and prayers of all his friends at Leek Wootton Sports Club. Thank you for everything Totty – you really are one in a million.
