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Gale – Batten was a true legend
Gale – Batten was a true legend

On Thursday, Kent football celebrated a true legend of our game when former Sheppey United boss Ernie Batten was laid to rest with Gillingham defender Sam Gale one of those paying tribute.

A funeral celebrating Ernie’s life was held at the Garden of England Crematorium at Bobbing on Thursday and was attended by many former and current players, as well as many followers of Kent football. 

One player who experienced and appreciated Ernie’s influence and reach is young Gillingham defender Sam Gale who spent most of a season on loan on the Island a few years ago, and Gale had nothing but praise for the “Batten legacy” that is left behind. 

Speaking to KSN at our weekly press briefing at Priestfield, Gale told us, “It was really sad news! He wasn’t around massive amounts when I was on loan there as I understand he was battling the illness then that he eventually passed on from.” 

“But whilst I was there, the influence he had on that Club… If you go onto the Island and talk to people and you talk to the fans and what he did for Sheppey as a Club and the Island is massive!”

“And that is a community of people over there that are really, really good people and he meant a lot to them, and he meant a lot to Sheppey!” 

“I went to the game they played against Walsall in the FA Cup last season, and you looked around and there were thousands in that stadium and that stadium he helped to build. And from a Club that was really struggling before he got involved!” 

“He was a massive character on the Island even when he wasn’t around in the changing room; around the Club everyone was “Ernie, Ernie, Ernie!” His passing is really sad, but he has left a legacy at that Club, and they are now in a good place!”  

On Saturday, Sheppey are at home to AFC Croydon Athletic in their penultimate Isthmian Southeast home game of the season with a 3.00pm kick-off. 

Should you wish to donate in Ernie’s memory to the Sheppey United Foundation, the family have set up a Go-Fund me page and the link is below 

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/sheppey-united?utm_term=pKdXPxnW4


 
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