Lord Ridley, former President and supporter of the club, sadly died on 22nd March after a long illness.
Matthew Ridley has been described as a ‘businessman, naturalist, conservationist, and sportsman’ as well as ‘a hard working peer and a witty speaker with a nice line in earthy jokes’.
The Ridley family has strong historical links with the town of Blyth and Matthew was extremely pleased to spend time as the Spartans’ President and was instrumental in organising the visit to Croft Park in 1997 of Prince Andrew.
He generously hosted receptions at Blagdon, where he lived all of his life, for Spartans players, management and sponsors. On one such occasion a special ‘Spartans tree’ was planted with green and white variegated leaves.
Generosity was one of his principal virtues and he would always do all in his power to support the club.
Before the Spartans’ FA Cup clash with Blackburn Rovers in 2009 the famous white bulls at Blagdon’s main gates were adorned with a green and white makeover.
Later that year he presented a plaque to the Spartans in recognition of 100 years of football having been played at Croft Park. Indeed on that evening, which he attended with his grandson, he kicked off a friendly game against Newcastle United just as his grandfather had done 100 years earlier.
His wife, Lady Anne with whom he had three daughters and one son, passed away in 2006.
Matthew will be greatly missed by all who were lucky enough to have known him.