The Kimchi Chronicles: R.I.P David Bell

I'm struggling to write into words something that will properly that will do justice to the memory of Dave Bell. But I'll give it a go anyway.

As you all know, on Friday we lost one of our most well-loved supporters after a road accident on the A20. I don't know the full circumstances surrounding his death and neither are those details important to me yet, what is important is that we have all lossed a good friend, a top bloke that we will never forget.

I remember the first time I met Dave. It was Saturday 16th December 2006, a 0-0 away draw against Horsham YMCA. A game that I would also consider to be one of the lowest points in DAFC history, although that does not coincide with meeting Dave ;). It was me, Phil Smith and Dave Bell who travelled up together on the train to the game. I'm not sure if there were any others but they were the three I remembered. Anyway, I remember hitting it off with Dave instantly. He was funny, kind and natural to speak to in conversation, which is not a trait you have everyone. It was also when he first introduced me to his alter-ego's: Ron Spunk, Eddie Eatshit and Derek Sausage.

For those of you that didn't know Dave Bell, he had various funny random names that he would call out and talk about. To an outsider it may not seem particularly amusing but when he says it in his thick Geordie accent it is hilarious. Amongst the three I have just named, his other favourites include the likes of Lennie Shatwell, Eric Mcderek (The cleric from Berwick), Didier Paptouche and Brian Trousers. Another favourite phrase of his was 'horses cock', which again just makes me smile if I think about it being said in his voice.

I've shared many enjoyable moments with Dave over the years. Any train or coach journey that had him on it would be improved ten-fold. My earliest memories of him were bonding over football books and autobiographies, which eventually led to us lending each other ours.
I think I also take the honour of being the first person Dave called a 'poo pants pot head', a phrase that has been coined since. I also take the priveledge of giving Dave the nickname "Silver Fox" because of his greying hair and George Clooney esque good looks. "Cheeky bugger you're taking the piss" he initially responded because he knows I'm a notorious sarcastic, piss-taking bastard, but in truth my reasoning behind that nickname has a whole element of truth behind it.

A gutting thing is that me, Dave, Russell and a few other Dover fans had planned to travel to Euro 2012 together. Dave had organised and outlined the whole plans for the trip and even used his credit card to apply for my share of the tickets because my dad was having problems doing it on his. Unfortunately our applications for tickets were unsuccessful and we ended up without any, which was a massive shame and a will now play on in the mind as a "what could have been" thing.

Theres not really much further I can add to that has not been said before. Dave was one of the nicest, friendliest, kindest and funniest Dover fans out there. Everybody who knew him adored him. This is not just post-death sentimental bullshit that always gets exaggerated when people die because truthfully there is not a single bad I could hear against Dave and we all loved him. Dave is one of the few Dover fans that refused to get involved with snideyness and bitching behind others peoples backs which 95% of us are guilty of (myself including).

It was only about a month ago when I saw Dave seemingly happy with his new girlfriend in Truro and only a couple of weeks ago we were having a few wibbly-wobblies in the Old Endeavour together. Its heartbreaking to think about it but after all the initial tears I feel priveledged and fortunate to have known Dave and someone I'm proud to have called my friend.

R.I.P David, we all love you and will never forget you. x