Tributes paid to 'larger than life' former Arsenal, Sunderland and South Shields goalkeeper

Colin Lemon joined Arsenal from South Shields Football Club as a teenager in the 1960s and only stopped playing local league football here in the North East when he was in his early 60s.

Colin, who used to travel to London to represent the Gunners at weekends while working as a plasterer, eventually formed his own successful business, Colmick Builders, and retired to Spain before returning home to South Tyneside with wife Mary, also now 77, who was his childhood sweetheart.

He died surrounded by family at his Cleadon home on Friday, September 25, after battling illness since the start of this year.

The couple’s daughter, Sharon Doering, 57, also of Cleadon, said: “He was a larger than life character and was one of the funniest people you could ever meet.

"His wit was amazing. You could never get the better of him. About the only person who could was his grand-daughter, Tai.”

Colin, the youngest of four boys – “his mother wanted a girl,” said Sharon – was born in Boldon Colliery in 1943 and began playing football aged eight at Hedworth Lane Junior and Infants School.

He had already played for Sunderland’s youth team when Arsenal beat Newcastle United and Burnley to his signature while he was only 17.

Sharon, a fashion designer and property developer, said: “He would carry on plastering up here and go down on a Friday night to play for Arsenal before coming home to see my mother afterwards.”

He returned to South Shields Football Club after leaving Arsenal and also played for Ryhope Colliery Welfare before later managing Sunderland’s Belford House.

Sharon, married to Uwe, 53, who is also a fashion designer and property developer, and mother to Tai, 16, said: “Football was his life and he carried on playing for the Black Bull, in East Boldon, even after arthritis got into his knees.”

A funeral service takes place at Boldon Cemetery on Friday, October 9, at 11.15am for invited family and friends.

The family say other mourners are welcome to attend while observing current social distancing restrictions.

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