I never actually met David, but he and I were online mates for years, courtesy of our lifetime support of Everton FC, as both he and I were members of the old Mr Gumboot forum and the one that followed it, Chuffed to be Blue.
On the forum, we talked about a host of societal, political, social and other things than the Blue's latest disasters! He was known as Sticky Toffee. He and I quickly became known as the cantankerous, "lefty" oldies... him holding up the UK end and me throwing in my barbs to the "posh Southerners" under my own name, from Melbourne, Australia.
Dave and I also candidly discussed mental health issues because I was quite honest on C2BB about battles I had had with anxiety and depression, which struck a chord with him. In later years, we had some deep, meaningful and often funny Messenger face to face calls, which I looked forward to.
I am sad that I never got actually meet Dave but treasure the online friendship we had. He had a hell of a life, it seemed to me, and he made it clear he loved his family deeply.
Vale Dave.... go well, wherever it is that we end up!
Kev Jones
Melbourne
(formerly of Wallasey and ex-sports journalist for the Liverpool Echo)
Kevin Jones
17/11/2025
