Towards the end of 2022 Whitley Bay Sporting Club sadly lost our longest standing coach and committee member, Gareth Whittaker.

Gareth not only coached a number of teams at the club, but was instrumental of the setup and continued growth of our Saturday morning development centre. This has given hundreds of local boys and girls the opportunity to begin their football journey in a fun and safe environment and progress into our teams, many of whom still play for the club today.

It was an absolute honor back in April 2023 in the presence of Gareths family to officially rename our development centre, "The Gareth Whittaker Development Centre". A lasting tribute to an absolute fantastic person. As you look down from heaven onto all the fields you have ever set foot upon, I hope you smile at the lives you have touched and the legacy you have left. May God place a hand on your shoulder and say "Well done". A good coach can change a game but a great coach can change a life. You are a great coach.

whitleybaysportingclub.co.uk/saturday-morning.