Just as our little community is battling to cope with the grief surrounding the tragic death of David Finnerty, we have been plunged into more mourning and sadness as the news of the tragic and untimely death of Bobby Masterson filtered through late on Friday night last. A black cloud of grief and sadness remains in our midst. He was christened Robert, some people refer to him as Rob but we in Colemanstown always called him Bobby, Sir Bobby in fact. He truly earned this title over his 9 year tenure as manager of this season’s under 17/18 team which he reaped from under 9’s/under 10’s in 2007/2008. Within a year he had won the Under 11 Div 1 League title with this same group of players and were League Cup Runners-up that same year. In 2010/11 he managed this same team to win the U12 Div 1 league title and in 2011/12 he won the U13 Div 2 title and U15 league crown and again the u15’s were runners up in the league cup. It’s no wonder he was referred to as ‘Sir’ Bobby as he leaves our soccer club with an unfillable void. He looked after this group of players as if they were his own. He was excellent in his managerial qualities and shared a bond like no other with his players. His relationship with these players was immense; ensuring everyone had plenty of game time, everyone had a seat to & from training, always ensuring fair play in a game and even on occasions after a good win, he treated all the players to grub in Supermacs, all at his own expense. He even got cross, if the club mentioned re-imbursement.
Bobby was led into Ballymacward Church yesterday for his requiem mass to the sound of ‘Yellow’ by Coldplay, one of his all time favourites. His daughter Katie Ann gave a moving tribute to her Dad. She spoke about his vintage Mustang car, his prized possession, which he had intended on restoring to its original condition. She spoke about his love for sport and most of all his love and enjoyment in coaching his soccer team who were like sons to him. She spoke about her Dad’s accident a year and a half ago which changed his life thereafter, having lived a truly fulfilling life until then. Amongst those symbols offered to the altar to represent his life were a family photo, a selection of his CD’s, a Colemanstown jersey, a trophy he won for an All American car show and a Liverpool jersey. Fr. Raymond Sweeney in his homily spoke about the pain and suffering he endured which were now put to an end and there’s many things in this life that we will never understand. His wife, Glenda thanked all her wonderful friends and neighbours for their support over the last number of days. She paid tribute to her husband whose ‘ultimate decision was to set everyone free’. Members of the u17/18 team carried his coffin while the club committee and members formed a guard of honour for his final journey from the Church to the cemetery.
Yesterday our club buried a true great. An icon of all time on a sports field. He will be sadly and desperately missed. Throughout his managerial career he was a dedicated, committed and fantastic manager and club committee member and did things in his own way and with his ‘own style’. Those who knew him salute him. His funeral mass took place in Ballymacward Church yesterday and was followed by burial in the new cemetery. We offer our deepest sympathy to his devastated family; his wife Glenda, his daughter Katie Ann, son Daniel and extended family, friends and neighbours. May he rest in peace with God above.
