Ossett Albion plan memorial after stalwart's death

Ossett Albion are mourning one of the club’s founders who died this week after a short illness.

Vice President and Life Member Peter Mountain, passed away aged 85 on Monday. The Evo-Stik Northern Premier League First Division North club say a stand at their Warehouse Systems Stadium will now be named after him.

Mr Mountain was one of the few surviving founder members of a team originally formed as a junior club back in 1944. The club stalwart had been involved with the The Albion throughout his life and served in almost every capacity from player to committee member, secretary, treasurer and chairman.

Current Chairman Stephen Hanks paid tribute to the man credited with having the foresight that led to the fledgling club acquiring and developing their current ground after a number of nomadic years in and around the Yorkshire town of Ossett.

He said: “As a founder member Peter was a special man who simply got on with things without ever seeking attention, praise or publicity. His achievements over so many years have been enormous and he will long be remembered as a vital and pioneering person in the history of Ossett Albion.

"There were times when Peter was the driving force within the organisation and instrumental in keeping the club going.”

Mr Mountain ran a local engineering business and Albion’s Chairman confirmed the club would now be renaming a stand at Queen’s Terrace as a permanent memorial following his funeral which takes place at 1.15pm at Dewsbury Crematorium on Wednesday, 4 July.

The chairman explained: “In recent years Peter, along with his son Michael, followed the club at matches both home and away and he was immensely proud that the club he founded finally achieved the goal of reaching the Northern Premier League.

“Peter personally, and his engineering company, regularly helped the club out with funding and expertise in the provision of further ground improvements.

"The most recent developments, attributable solely to Peter and Michael, include all the gates to the ground and most notably of all the stand at the far end which will be named 'The Peter Mountain Stand' in a lasting testimony to his memory.”