Wigan Athletic Supporters Club's tribute to Roy 'Spike' Highton

It is with sadness that we share the news of the passing of Roy ‘Spike’ Highton, who was treasurer of the Supporters Club for over 30 years.
By Paul Kendrick
Published 23rd Sep 2020, 12:29 BST
Updated 23rd Sep 2020, 12:31 BST
Roy 'Spike' Highton (right), with fellow Supporters Club committee member Mick Wimsey and Emile HeskeyRoy 'Spike' Highton (right), with fellow Supporters Club committee member Mick Wimsey and Emile Heskey
Roy 'Spike' Highton (right), with fellow Supporters Club committee member Mick Wimsey and Emile Heskey

At Springfield Park, a small band of stalwart Latics fans became the first independent providers of travel to away games for supporters.

Very quickly the Official Supporters Club was formed and years of away travel, legendary weekenders and social events began.

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Spike was a founding member of the first committee, and famous for his weekend trips for away games... organising a pub lunch on the way down and some of the most unique hotel stopovers ever seen!

From the Torquay Wigan Takeover in 1997 to London stays on Tottenham Court Road...thousands of fans have made so many memories during these trips.

Spike was also famous for his frugality. When the Supporters Club reunited the Three Amigos for a sportsman’s dinner at the stadium, Spike of course booked them economy plane tickets.

But he also insisted a committee member picked them up from the airport, rather than using a taxi – the trio squashed into a Nissan Micra was a sight to behold!

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Spike was an amazing treasurer and was at the heart of the Supporters Club.

He liaised with Eavesway Travel to organise the coaches, and impossibly balanced the books so the coach travel ALWAYS broke even, despite midweek trips to Millwall with 14 people on a 54-seater coach.

He and wife, Pam enjoyed their six grandchildren and spending time with their family at their caravan at weekends.

As a former RAF man and helicopter technician for 18 years, Spike was proud of his service and his Memorial Paver will make its way to the National Arboretum in the coming weeks.

Spike was a loyal, loving friend to so many.

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He worked tirelessly on behalf of the fans, and his aim was always to represent them and provide opportunities for them to engage with their football club.

He was so disappointed at the recent administration and, even during his illness, he kept in touch with everything going on, offering advice and support to the rest of the committee.

Everyone at the Supporters Club is devastated by his loss, and things will never be the same without him. He is irreplaceable, and so many people will miss him so much.

Our thoughts are with Pam and his family, and his memory will live on in the Supporters Club forever.

To our much loved friend, Spike, who has gone up to the Supporters Club in the sky.

Roy 'Spike' Highton: 1960-2020