We were devastated to learn yesterday of the sudden death of Kimm Connett. This is a loss that will be felt not only throughout our football club, with whom his family are most closely associated, but all other clubs, businesses and communities with which he was connected as there was no one more giving, more supportive and more proactive than Kimm.

Kimm was pink and blue to his core following in the footsteps of his father Pat Connett, both of them not only excelling for the Hamlet on the football pitch but also continuing their support, work and volunteering beyond their playing days. I am sure there will be countless more comments and articles that will recount his playing career in far greater detail than I can from those there to witness it first hand, not least covering the famous Isthmian League Championship in 1978 under manager Alan Smith.

Whilst I was a little young to have watched Kimm in action on the pitch I can speak volumes of his contribution in recent years as during my five years as Chairman he became a friend and confidante as he helped the club reconnect with former players, was a constant source of support and introduced me to other clubs he thought we could learn from as we rebuilt our club after staring into the abyss in 2018. Whenever there was something I needed help with there would inevitably be a response within days either offering to provide that help personally or giving me the name of a contact from his seemingly endless football and business network who may be of service. Every single offer was genuine, unconditional and followed up on. For a club that had recently passed into the ownership of supporters with little experience in football, other than standing on the terraces, Kimm’s perspective, knowledge and advice was something I was became increasingly reliant on and unusually confident in investing in as, like his dad before him, I knew he would be in it for the long haul through good or bad. His love and support for our club was deep-seated and unconditional.

One of my first complaints when I took over the club was the lack of any connection with past players as I could see from following the Hamlet to away games that other clubs had an abundance of support and expertise from their old boys and so I was introduced to Kimm only to find that he was the hub of a superb network from his playing days and it has been an honour to spend time with all of them. My biggest regret is the only headache Kimm ever gave me was his group was so popular there were far too many to accommodate in a boardroom on a match day and we spoke often about the expanded facilities we would have in the new stadium to give them all the welcome they deserved, it is heart-breaking that he won’t be there to host it.

I feel fortunate that I was able to spend the recent Tooting & Mitcham friendly with Kimm and Alan walking them through the new squad and the pre-season progress, they were both a huge support through the bad times of the season past and so I was excited to hopefully share the good times ahead. All we spoke about after was what else he could do for the club and the final text I received from him on the weekend was yet another offer of support to step in and fill a gap after telling him we had an impending departure. That was Kimm, every problem, every ask, every gap, first in line, first to offer, first class.

The gap he leaves will hurt, then grow as we have lost one of the few people we could all turn to and he would always have been there for the Hamlet.

Dear Kimm. Thank you. I will miss you dearly. The club was honoured to have you. Our love and thoughts are with your family and I hope we can be of some support in return.

Ben