The supporters and club as a whole gave Chapman a rousing farewell on Saturday, as the curtain came down on an astonishing 32 year spell for the Lowestoft Town legend.

The chants rang out 'There's only one Micky Chapman' and there were plenty of tears as supporters, friends, players and many others said thank you and farewell to 'Chappo'.

Few would have thought that when the then manager Paul Chick persuaded a young forward, Micky Chapman, playing for Beccles Town to join Lowestoft Town and selected him as the substitute for the Eastern Counties League fixture away to Ely City on 29th January 1983 that it would be the beginning of a legend. Paul Chick had brought Chappo into the club as a replacement for Dean Bammant, father of current player Shaun, who had moved on to Gorleston. Strictly speaking that was not Chappo’s debut as he had made three appearances under Jimmy Moran two years earlier so his true Lowestoft debut was away to Braintree on 31st January 1981.

However it was that Ely game in 1983 that started Chappo’s unbroken spell with the Blues but it was Dickie Atterton who stole the limelight with 4 goals in the Blues 5-0 victory, Colin Chick the other scorer. For the record his teammates on that day were Brian Northcott, Paul Hartle, Colin Bottomley, Colin Chick, Nicky Twaits, Kevin Jones, Steve Ward, Trevor Sadd, Dickie Atterton, Richard Barratt and Jerry Steer.

It was two games later that Chappo scored the first of his 193 first team goals in a 2-3 defeat away to March Town United – Jerry Steer getting the other – and by a strange coincidence it is the ‘Hares’ that feature prominently in the milestones in his career.

Chappo seemed to have a penchant for cup ties when it came to scoring feats. He hit 5 goals in a 10-1 thrashing of Brantham Athletic in the F A Vase (30th October 1993) at the Meadow, hattricks against Berkhamsted Town away (5-3 3rd January 1990) and Mirrlees Blackstones away (4-1 5th October 1991 in the F A Vase ands at home against Bury Town in the Suffolk Premier Cup (7-1). In league games he only managed 2 hattricks against Clacton Town (6-1 10th April 1984) and Halstead Town (4 goals in 7-3 win 6th January 1990).

Chappo’s last goal came in a 1-2 home defeat by Harwich & Parkston on 15th April 1994 and he finally ended his playing career on a high note on 29th March 1997 as he came off the bench in the final minute of a home game against March Town United and his only touch of the ball saw him send in a cross from the right for Alan Barnard to head home the final goal in a 10-0 victory.

Chappo was only sent off once as a player for Lowestoft and that too was against March Town United. The occasion was April Fools Day – 1st April 1995 – just a day after the untimely death of striker Peter Munro and neither team had any appetite for the game which ended in a tame goalless draw. Chappo was sent off for deliberate handball inside the centre circle.

As a player he won just 1 trophy – the Eastern Counties League Cup in 1983/4. His last manager – Colwyn Rowe – predicted that he would become the club’s longest serving manager and that has certainly come to pass. He took over the manager’s role in January 1994 and despite always being popular as a player, it took several years before he was fully accepted as a manager. On several occasions supporters (and some committee members) claimed ‘we will never win anything whilst he is in charge’ but Chairman Roy Harper stood firm and Chappo’s passion and commitment finally paid dividends with three championships, 3 promotions, 3 play off finals, 7 Suffolk Premier Cups, 2 Eastern Counties League Cups and a memorable day at Wembley in the F A Vase final.

So after 32 years, 480 first team appearances, 193 goals, 1640 games, 147,600 plus minutes, 2 worn out hips, enough hair lost to stuff a mattress or two he has decided to call it a day. He has earned and will retain a big place in the history of this club and his achievements will be long remembered.

Now with his wife, Rhea’s firm thumb hovering overhead he will be able to relax on a Saturday afternoon and let others take the strain.

Terry Lynes