Farewell to Joy Barry the wonderful mother figure of grassroots football in Leamington

Joy, of Lillington and whose real name was Margaret, died peacefully aged 78 at Warwick Hospital on March 31 having fought a brave battle against cancer for the past five years.

She was the dearly-loved wife of fellow Hibs co-founder Jim, devoted mother to Sheena, Kevin, Siobhàn, Liam, Kieran and Julanne, grandmother to Alicia, Sharne, Jack, Ryan, Shaun, Jessica, Jordan, Lewis, Riordan, Laoise and Danny and great-grandmother to Riley, Poppy, Millie-Jae, Sophia, Freddie and Rupert.

But her 'extended family' was made up of many former and current grassroots footballers from the various Hibs' teams over the years and many in the Irish and Leamington community.

Siobhàn said: "Mum was not only a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother but also a mother figure and friend to so many thousands of children and adults over her lifetime.

"Her contribution to her community was significant.

"Mum was grassroots football - these past few weeks have seen a huge outpouring of condolences and support to dad, the rest of the family and Leamington Hibs.

"Professional footballer Jordan Shipley of Coventry City said 'RIP Joy Barry, a wonderful woman with a very big heart'.

"Central Ajax FC have said 'Joy was one of a kind'.

"AFS Solihull said 'What a pleasure away days were at Leamington, Joy was wonderful lady who always made us welcome'.

"FC Stratford said 'Joy was tremendous to be around, win lose or draw'.

"Knowle FC said mum was 'one of the unsung heroes of non-league football' and Ruby Borough have described Mum as 'a true servant to grassroots football'.

Joy was born in Landsdown Street in Leamington in 1941 to Welsh parents and enjoyed growing up with four brothers.

She met her husband Jim in B & B trailers in Kingsway.

Jim had moved to England and they were married in 1963.

Jim played for and managed teams in Leamington but in 1974 Jim and Joy decided to start a club of their own and co-founded Leamington Hibernian FC, which is now 46 years old.

Joy performed the role of club secretary and at times treasurer and child protection officer.

In 1977 Joy became one of the first female referees.

The Law of the Game exam cost £2.50 for her to take.

Siobhàn said: "Mum was the backbone of Leamington Hibernian, she knew all the FA rules and over the years she became one of the most respected women in the Coventry and Warwickshire leagues and the Birmingham County FA.

"She spent 46 years and uncountable hours dedicating her life to that of both youth and men's football and she organised many football tours in that time.

"Our family has received nearly 200 cards of condolence and letters and members of the community have found ways to get messages to Dad and other family members during the Coronavirus social distancing period.

"These have included video messages and neighbours standing outside holding up banners of love and support.

"I stopped counting the phone calls to the house - once they reached 908 which was in the first week.

“People have said: 'Joy allowed people a sense of belonging, an introduction to teamwork and fair play, a sense of worth', 'Joy passed away having lived her life making a difference to others, she afforded so much of her precious time, patience, care and energy to meet the benevolence of others, 'she was a selfless soul, whose presence always made me feel welcome, even at times when I knew I wasn’t at my best', 'when I think of Joy, I realise that our time on earth must be just a short span of the vast eternity we have been granted to get to know God and one another', 'she had so much to share and managed to find so many to share it with'."

Due to the current situation with Coronavirus, a private burial for Joy will take place today (Wednesday, April 22) at 3pm.

A closed mass live streamed from St Joseph's church will be accessed by friends as far afield as the USA, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Belgium and all over the UK.

Had the situation been different, thousands of people would have attended the funeral.

A church service and celebration of Joy's life will be held at a future date.