MEMBERS of the Rosyth community and beyond have raised nearly £1,000 to create a permanent memorial to the late Jon Harrison.

Jon, who was 63, died on January 25 after losing his battle with COVID-19 and tributes have continued to pour in in his memory.

Well known for his commitment to football in the town and for being the driving force behind the project to turn the Fleet Grounds into a community facility through the South West Fife Community Sports Partnership (SWFSP), his passion for football saw him work as a scout for his hometown club, Grimsby Town, as well as on a freelance basis, and serve as the chairman of Rosyth AFC Saturday Amateurs.

Jon’s commitment to the game locally spanned around 30 years and, to pay tribute to his legacy, a gofundme page has been set up to create a lasting memorial.

By the time the Press went to print, the fundraiser, started by Dean Cooper, had raised £985 of its initial £1,000 target.

A note on the page said: “Jon was a popular and well-known figure in the local community and Fife footballing world.

“He was the driving force behind many community projects and youth football teams over a number of years and gave his time selflessly for the benefit of others.

“Above all else, Jon was a family man, a gentleman and a friend to many and we would like say that our thoughts and prayers are with Jon’s family and friends at this difficult time.

"We would like to raise funds to create a memorial for Jon in the form of a bench that can be placed close to the football pitches where he spent so much of his time.”

In addition to his passion for football, Jon served previously in the Royal Navy – including in the Falklands – and worked for facilities management firm Mitie.

Some of former colleagues, led by John Graddon, paid tribute with John saying: “He was my manager for my nightshift at Mitie. I worked under him for a year and it was the best year I have ever had under any manager.

“He will always be remembered for the good memories we made and the stories he told.

“He was a lovely man. He was a big inspiration to all of us and he is going to be missed by everyone.”

Maria McGuire described Jon as a “kind, caring man” who was “always so helpful” and prepared with some funny jokes to lighten the mood, while Elaine Connell said she would “definitely miss your laugh and smile”, as well as his stories about life in the Navy.

Margaret Anderson said that Jon was “there for you to talk to” and that everyone would miss him as both a manager and a friend, adding that “we have all lost a very special person in Jon”.

Daniel Graddon said he would miss Jon’s “cheeky smile talking about football”, while Stuart MacIntosh said simply that “me and the team at work will really miss you”.

If you would like to donate to the fundraiser, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-jon-harrison.