PAT HARDING never got the chance to share being an adult with his famous dad.
Former Chelsea vice-chairman and major investor Matthew Harding was tragically killed in a 1996 helicopter crash with five others following a League Cup game at Bolton, aged just 42.
Pat was 12 so his dad never saw him grow up, get married, have children or embark on a successful non-league playing career.
But he did leave his young son with solid values he has put to use to help lead Sussex non-league club Hassocks to the biggest achievement in their 123-year history.
Pat, in his first season as chairman, saw the village team from just outside Brighton clinch the Southern Combination League title with a 3-0 win over Crowborough Athletic on Saturday in front of a record crowd of 807.
The much-loved Sussex non-league striker — who played for Eastbourne Borough, Hassocks, Horsham, Whitehawk and Burgess Hill — is often stewarding the car park, operating the turnstiles and chatting warmly to fans.
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It has echoes of when his dad visited local pubs on Chelsea matchdays and drank with supporters rather than schmoozing in VIP boxes.
Pat, 41, told SunSport: “When I was aged between eight and 11, we went to a lot of games home and away.
“We’d get the train and go into the pubs before and after matches. It wouldn’t have won him any Father of the Year awards but it was fun.
“Dad had been kicked out of the Chelsea boardroom on matchdays after having a row with chairman Ken Bates, so we’d go to the local pub and mingle with fans instead.
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“It taught me about giving people time, making them feel special. He’d have crowds of people around him but was happy to hold court and have a beer with them.
“That’s what I do now. If Hassocks supporters come up to me, I give them time. It’s nice making people feel important, which they are.
“I do the car park and turnstiles because we only have seven or eight volunteers.
“Some people say I shouldn’t be parking because I miss any goals that are scored early.
“But I like that people can see I’m doing something rather than swanning around and, secondly, it’s nice to meet and greet people by being front of house along with the other turnstile guys, who also do a great job.”
Pat had a 22-year senior playing career that saw him score a remarkable 348 goals in 990 games — with winning promotion and playing in the National League at Eastbourne the highlight.
And he laughed and admitted: “My goalscoring ratio would’ve been better had I not played on as an old-timer!”
He also holds the distinction of netting in every senior step of non-league, from Sussex County League to National League.
At first, I said, ‘That’s crazy’. But then I thought, ‘What am I going to do now I’ve retired?’
But after hanging up his boots in May last year with Hassocks — where he came through as a kid — he became chairman.
Pat said: “The former chairman, Dave John, who has been at the club for more than 30 years, asked if I fancied doing it.
“At first, I said, ‘That’s crazy’. But then I thought, ‘What am I going to do now I’ve retired?’ because coaching and managing isn’t for me.
“Being chairman would give me a chance to put a little print on it and improve a few things — but I didn’t expect us to win the league in my first season!”
Hassocks are a family club and this season not a single player got paid — not even expenses.
Next term Pat says manager James Westlake is getting a playing budget but it will be the lowest in the Isthmian League South East Division.
Pat added: “Being chairman involves two big things. One, it’s building and maintenance and, second, matchdays are like throwing a big party and you’ve got to make everything run smoothly.”
He is overseeing the installation of new, modern LED floodlights to sit on the exact columns his dad donated to the club in 1995 to enable the club to be promoted to the Sussex League.
Also he is overseeing powering The Beacon stadium with solar panels, pushing club merchandise and improving the matchday experience.
Pat has added a merchandise sweet stand to cater for kids as Hassocks centre their focus on attracting families and youngsters to the club.
He said: “We want to grow organically and be sustainable. We’re definitely good enough to be in the level above but whether that’ll be our ceiling or not time will tell.”
His dad sadly never saw Chelsea go on to win all the glittering silverware of the Roman Abramovich era — which included five Premier League titles and two European Cups — although his legacy at Stamford Bridge lives on through The Matthew Harding Stand, which he helped finance.
Pat learned the tragic news of his dad’s death the morning after while at home in Hassocks.
And he said: “When you have a bereavement as a kid, you probably just cope with it and it’s only when you look back you understand the enormity of it. I remember waking up and hearing about it first thing.
“My mum told me I wouldn’t be going to school that day. There was a big media circus outside.
“It was bizarre because it was on the news. I don’t know if it made it easier because with my dad always being in the papers or on TV it was all I’d known.
“Like most ordinary people and growing up as a man, you hide emotions and don’t deal with them at the time.
“It catches you up sooner or later but I’ve dealt with it as I’ve become an adult.
Following in dad’s footsteps
“It makes you a bit stronger. You get through stuff. You cope like everyone else does — a lot of people’s dads die.”
Matthew Harding would be proud of his son today. His values have been passed on to Pat, who is much loved in Sussex non-league football for his warm and sincere personality.
Pat — who has his own business working as a mobile sports massage therapist and personal trainer — added: “My dad was very personable. He made people feel good. He was generous. It’s amazing now looking back how much I picked up.
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“Dad enjoyed people’s company. It made me realise in football and business people buy from people — personality is a big thing, more than anything.
“He was good fun. He was more eccentric and charming than me.
“Dad was a bit of a character and I’m so happy I took some of that forward.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
