Nick Waitsman
TBC – 15th March 2021
It was with immense sadness that we announced the passing of the Club's Vice-Chairman Nick Waitsman on Monday 15th March after a lengthy battle against cancer.
Nick joined Temple Fortune from Highgate Wanderers in 1987. He was Second Team Secretary for about four seasons before retiring from MSFL football in 1990 after breaking his leg at Bethune Park which put him out of action for a few years.
He made a return to playing in 1999 when Temple Fortune's Old Boys Team took part in the inaugural Masters League season. Most of his appearances from then onwards were rather limited and most of his turn-outs were as a substitute. He played his last game for the Club during season 2006/07. Nick played 27 games for the First Team (plus 22 as sub), 41 for the Second Team (plus 27 as sub) and 24 for the Old Boys Team (plus 35 as sub), making a total of 176 appearances overall.
Nick's next role on the Management Committee was to run the Old Boys Team and he completed ten seasons as manager (and Old Boys Team Secretary, 1998/99 to 2008/09 inclusive) before being forced to step down due to an ongoing sight problem. He managed the Old Boys to the runners-up position in the MMFL Second Division on two occasions (2003/04 and 2006/07) and also to three consecutive Ralph Epstein Memorial Trophy wins.
An Honorary Member, he won the Chairman's Merit Award three times and holds the distinction of making the most appearances for Temple Fortune as a substitute! Nick received a 20 Years Long Service Award at the close of the 2008/09 season. At the end of the 2008/09 season, having stepped down as Old Boys Team manager, Nick was elected as the Club's Vice-Chairman which was his current role; he attended most AGMs and even hosted three of the meetings at his previous home in Aldridge Avenue in Edgware.
Nick was an Arsenal season-ticket holder for many years and amongst other jobs worked as a car mechanic in the railway arches near Golders Green Station for a long time. In later years he used to sell high quality watches on runs to Copenhagen before retiring due to ongoing health issues.
We remember Nick as a tall, hard-playing centre-half, a great manager and for his personality of having a good nature and a very dry wit. Nick would often crack jokes and he was hugely popular within the Club. In recent years he used to attend various 'TFFC Legends' get-together lunches with Tony Espinoza, Mike Shorvon and the Kyte brothers, the last of which happened after the first lockdown last year.
An amusing, well-loved man and a true TFFC legend in every sense.
