It was with great sadness that Crusaders Football Club has learnt of the sad passing of Billy Dickey. Billy was the groundsman for many years at Seaview before retirement and went often beyond the call of duty to ensure games went ahead no matter the weather when we had a grass pitch. Billy lived practically in the ground where he lived in St. Vincent Street and kept an eye on the ground at all times.
Ronnie Millar on hearing of Billys passing said “ Billy Dickey was a character around Seaview and gave his all for the Club. Rain, hail or shine Billy would have been out on the Seaview surface getting it ready for the next match and had the pitch immaculate for the team to play every weekend or week night when a game was on. It was all down to Billy to be game ready and he was either getting the corner flags sorted, lines drawn out, grass cut or fixing nets on a weekly basis to ensure we as supporters got our ”match fix" each week.. He was an unsung hero at Seaview and was as important as any player who would have played for Crusaders during his years as groundsman. Unfortunately his health meant Billy had to retire and we where indebted to his service at the club"
Ronnie added “ To his wife Lorna, children and grand children and the entire Dickey family circle can I on behalf of us all at Crusaders Football Club offer you our sincere condolences and sympathies to you on the passing of Billy. He was a lovely man who was committed to his job at Seaview and I know he was the same to his family. He will be sadly missed by you all and can I ask that the Crusaders family put Lorraine and the Dickey family in our thoughts and prayers over the next days, weeks and months as they get through the loss of a beloved husband, father and grandfather.”
At Rest.