Ian Cole, a past chairman of the SJA and still serving as its press officer, has retired from the Daily Mail.
Cole, 60, heeded medical advice that he was damaging his health travelling from his Essex home to Kensington and back every night, when he would rarely leave the desk before midnight.
Cole joined his local newspaper, the Ilford Recorder, from school on the Monday following England’s 1966 World Cup triumph. After completing his indentures, he progressed via the Watford Evening Echo to the London Evening News and the Daily Express.
After a brief flirtation with Robert Maxwell’s London Daily News, he returned to the Express and had completed 15 years’ service when the tap on the shoulder informed him he was no longer part of that paper’s future planning.
He helped David Emery launch Sport First and then the Non-League Paper before the final part of his journey took him to the Daily Mail as acting night sports news editor – a temporary position that was to last nine years.
Cole joined the SJA committee in 1986 and was chairman in two spells, including the 50th anniversary celebrations of 1998. He said: “It is difficult to say the words ‘I used to be’, but I console myself with many hours watching West Ham United, Southend United, Essex cricket, playing golf badly and joining Rayleigh Bowls Club (junior academy section!).”
He says he is not actively seeking work, “though I could consider any commissions which I could undertake from home”.
He can be contacted on 01268 784914 (H), 07799 605280 (M) or by e-mail at icole@hotmail.co.uk.
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