Pan Community players past and present bid farewell to their late manager Steve Case on his final journey at Downside Community Centre today (Friday 2nd December).
‘Caser’s’ hearse was driven through a guard of honour at Pan Field at 13:30. Family and friends let off balloons in his honour and celebrant Sue Edwards paid tribute to his life.
From Pan, Steve travelled to the IOW Crematorium in Whippingham, in which his life was commemorated. This was followed by a wake at The Riverside Centre, which included one of Steve’s favourite pastimes: karaoke.
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Guard of honour for Steve Case
The family have asked for any money donations to be made to The IW Daisy Chains Charity.
Present Pan manager Stewart Shepherd said:
“The tribute to Steve was amazing and the support for the family was unbelievable. The whole community came out. It was fitting for what he did for so many people.
“Sue Edwards the celebrant made her tribute by wearing a Pan top. She put across how Steve was as a family and football person, and how much he was thought of in Pan and on the Isle of Wight.”
Balloons being released in ‘Caser’s’ honour
Steve’s daughter Dolly has said:
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“It’s fitting that everyone came back to the Riverside to do Dad’s favourite Saturday night karaoke.
“I want to thank the whole of the football team. They were amazing and did Dad proud.
“Thank you to everyone who came.”
At Steve’s wake, many former players had anecdotes about the legendary Pan manager.
Former Pan player Shane Armiger told Island Echo:
“Steve wanted to sign me, but I said I was signing for someone else. I jokingly told him that I wanted a boat. The next day, there was a dinghy on my drive.
“I told him I didn’t have any football boots. Steve turned up with a pair of rugby boots with long studs. I played in them even though they were far too small.
“Steve was the best. He was the 1 we all wanted to play for.”
