It is with deep regret that we record the death of another of the club's presidents, Paddy Flood, the third in the last 12 months following the deaths of Mickey Clarke in February 2021 and Dessie Gorman in November 2021.

Paddy, a resident of Proudstown Road, was on the first ever club committee in 1965 and had been ever present on the club executive since 1969, an unbroken commitment that lasted over half-a-century. His uncle Packie was among the club's first presidents himself in those early years.

Paddy also played some football in the late '60s for Simonstown and renowned for a particular type of boots that he wore!

On match days he was always a dependable presence, whether it was stewarding or gate collection.

No task was every too great for Paddy who would invariably go about his business quietly, cheerfully and modestly.

His main roles were in helping to establish many of the social elements to the club, from his involvement in the hugely popular sports days of the 1970s and '80s to the running of a popular 'ballroom of romance' in Simonstown.

But in latter years he was the driving force behind the setting up on the club's Thursday bingo night, a venture that has turned out to be an outstanding success and weekly occasion.

One of his proudest days as a Simonstown member from its inception was when then Taoiseach John Bruton opened the clubhouse extension in 1995. As an avid Fine Gael activist and supporter, he delighted in taking his place on the podium beside the Taoiseach that evening!

He was a valued member of the ground staff at Navan racecourse for much of his life and was always a regular on the annual club trip to Leopardstown.

He was elected a president of the club in 2012 but continued to immerse himself in activities around the club on a weekly basis where he was very popular among those friends who he shared many evenings with in Simonstown, among them fellow presidents Mickey and Dessie.

May he rest in peace.

* Members and friends are invited to gather in Fox's Funeral Home, Abbeylands Navan on Friday morning, 9am, to form a guard of honour as a mark of respect to Paddy on his journey to St Oliver's Church.

https://rip.ie/death-notice/patrick-paddy-flood-navan-meath/482660

The late Paddy Flood (centre) pictured with Jim Lane and Gerry Dungan during a recent visit to the club bar with the Feis Cup which the senior mens football team won for the first time in October.