Town midfielder Cole Skuse has paid tribute to club stalwart Dick Parker, the training ground caretaker and academy kit manager, who passed away after suffering a fatal heart attack last weekend at the age of 67 having worked at the club for 20 years.
Skuse echoed the sentiments of manager Mick McCarthy and other members of the playing staff, all of whom were deeply saddened when they heard the news while they were in the North-East for the Championship fixture at Middlesbrough.
"Even now I’m lost for words because he was someone I would call a friend,” said Skuse. "I’d known him for near-on five years and it seems surreal that we saw him on the Friday before we left for Middlesbrough and then heard the sad news that he had passed away.
"I used to call him Dick van Dyke and he seemed irreplaceable. It’s such sad news for everyone — this is Dick’s training ground, this is his manor, so to lose someone like him is a huge loss for everyone.”
Dick, with his closely-cropped hair and many tattoos, looked a formidable figure but in reality was a gentle giant, said Skuse. He added: "You might have thought you wouldn’t want to be in a room on your own with Dick, who looked as if he might strangle you, but I can honestly say he was the nicest, softest guy you could ever meet.
"He was an absolute pleasure to work alongside and my thoughts are with his family and friends at such a sad time.
"He was always the first in and last out at the training ground. He just went about his business as well as he could.
"He wasn’t here to be your best mate and would look after the pros exactly the same as he would an under-8 kid in the academy. He would go out of his way to help them and their parents, if the kids ever needed sorting out.
"We could sit and talk all day about Dick — you could go on and on to give him as many compliments as you could — and everyone would say the same about him. He was such a nice gentleman and even as I’m talking about him I can feel myself welling up. He was such a lovely guy.”
Skuse backed the call of former goalkeeper James Pullen, now the club’s kit manager who worked closely with Parker, for supporters to pay tribute with a round of applause in the 67th minute of Saturday’s home clash with Reading.
"So there should be, that’s the least he deserves,” said 32-year-old Skuse. "He was a leading face of the club and he deserves every tribute he can have. Let’s hope we can put on a performance for him this weekend.
"I don’t know if any of his family and friends will be in attendance but I hope they are and they can see us doing our utmost to get the right result and performance for Dick.”