It is with sadness to inform you of one of our Club patrons Don Ritchie has passed away.

Don held roles as a Board Director and Deputy Chairman of the Eels and Leagues Club for over 20 years and was a Life Member and Patron of both Clubs at the time of his passing.

He was a resident of the Parramatta area for well over 60 years and became a member of the Leagues Club in 1968.

His relationship with the Football Club began in 1979 as the statistician for the First Grade team – a position he held for all 4 premierships before his retirement from the position at the end of the 1996 season.

Don’s contribution to both our organisations was enormous – playing a vital role as a member of the Football Club advisory committee and using his professional skills to help oversee numerous improvements and expansion of the Leagues Club venues across multiple decades.

As one of a select few who received Life Membership of the Football and Leagues Club, he was widely admired by the Eels community and on behalf of everyone at both Clubs, we would like to extend our sympathies to his wife Shirley and his wider family.