We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Dave Waters who played with great distinction for the club between 1964 and 1973.
Dave made his debut for the club then known simply as Tonbridge on Thursday 23 April 1964 against Canterbury City and in total made 294 appearances scoring 20 times.
A versatile defender, Dave could play either left-back or slightly forward as an old-fashioned wing-half wearing the number six shirt, and played alongside a number of Tonbridge greats like Geoff Truett, Joe Carolan, Vik Akers and Malcolm Macdonald.
Dave was born on 3 February 1946 and lived first in Wrotham and then Borough Green.
He attended the Technical School (now Oakwood Park Grammar) in Maidstone where he met future Manchester United star Dave Sadler, who was only two days younger than him.
Over the next few years the lads played together for the school, Maidstone Boys and also Kent.
Waters was playing for the Borough Green men’s side at 14 and also went on a tour of Belgium with Platt United FC. He joined Maidstone in 1963 at the age of 17 from Borough Green.
Manager Harry Haslam, who would later manage both Luton Town and Sheffield United, first saw Dave’s first team potential in the reserves at 17. He was quoted in a newspaper article, saying: “Brightest stars are wing half Dave Waters, inside forward David Crust, fallbacks Malcolm Foy and Rob Histed – all local boys.”
Dave worked as a maintenance fitter for Kimberly Clark. A fine all-round sportsman, Dave also played cricket for Kent Youth Amateurs, Kent Schools and Wrotham Cricket Club and in later life was a keen golfer and squash player.
Dave’s son Gary told us: “A few months ago I was at an antiques fair in the Sevenoaks area and asked a stallholder if he had any Tonbridge programmes. He mentioned that there was someone at the fair who may remember my dad. He called this gentleman over and asked if he knew Dave Waters and he said straight away: ‘Cor, yeah, he was a good player!’ His name was Pete Saunders (a former manager).”
Dave is pictured below, second from left, alongside Malcolm Macdonald, far left.
Gary is proud that his dad is included on the Legends Board at The Yeomans Community Stadium, Longmead and shared with us this picture below of Dave taken in 2018.
In later years, Dave suffered with Alzheimer’s and died peacefully on 17 August at Nesbit House Care Home in Sevenoaks.
Dave’s wife of 55 years, Sandra, died in May and he leaves behind a son Gary and grandsons James and Callum.
Dave’s funeral takes place at 11am on Friday 18 September at Vintners Park Crematorium, Bearsted Road, Maidstone, ME14 5LG
Any donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society.
The club extends its deepest condolences to all Dave’s family and friends.
