Holloway, Dacre
Birth Date
3rd September 1947
Biographical Text
Dacre Holloway, fondly-remembered by many, was stadium and estates manager in the early days of supporter ownership. He was also an enthusiastic fundraiser at a challenging time for the club.
Born in 1947, Dacre served with both the Royal Marines and British Army and in a twenty-year association with the Gurkha regiment rose to the rank of major. Also an army education officer, he was an United Nations spokesman during the Bosnian crisis in the early 1990s.
Retiring from the military to East Devon, he joined his brother Andy in supporting Exeter City and became an active volunteer during the uncertain times between 2002 and 2003. Soon becoming volunteer stadium and estates manager in the early days of supporter ownership, he also devised various fundraising initiatives including Cans for City and Grecian Goals (which initially funded drainage work at the Cat and Fiddle).
Described by Exeter City director Frances Farley as an individual who often did "the work of ten people", Dacre became an inspirational figure at St James' Park and there was widespread shock and sorrow when he died suddenly at the age of sixty-one in 2008.
Known for his trademark flat cap - later to be preserved in the club museum - there were many tributes to Dacre after his death and a minute's applause was held at the next home game. A tree was planted in his memory at the Cat and Fiddle and part of the complex became known as 'Dacre's Acre'. Unfortunately the tree failed to flourish and was replanted some years later in the memorial garden at St James' Park.
Much of Dacre's fundraising efforts were taken over by his brother Andy. In responding to the many tributes paid to Dacre his family expressed appreciation for how much he was remembered for his organisational skills, patience, understanding, steadfast friendship, loyalty and generosity.
Creator
PF
Collection
Files
Comments
Steve Stentiford
I had the pleasure of Dacre taking me round the whole of the ground for my 50th birthday in 2008.Great company and he is sorely missed.
Nick House
I encountered Dacre in the autumn of 2007 when Exeter City participated in the annual nationwide Heritage Open Days. Having visited several other sites in the city, and been on one of the extra Redcoat walking tours, I arrived at St James' Park expecting a quick whizz around the ground. Instead Dacre spent over two hours showing four or five us just about every nook and cranny imaginable including crawling into a cubbyhole under the Big Bank.
A good ten years later I was buying a ticket at the club shop when a passer-by offered me the chance of looking inside the ground. I told him about Dacre's wonderful tour of all those years ago and it turned out I was talking to Andy his brother. I didn't want to waste Andy's time but we fell into conversation and, after a good hour-and-a-half, I had to make my excuses and leave.
A further five or six years later I found myself putting my name forward to do the occasional midweek tour myself. I guess I was inspired by the time and consideration shown to me by Dacre which must have been shortly before his untimely death.