RIP Freda Oyston - a minute's applause at 15.03 on Saturday 20/04/24 please.

1982DurhamSAFC said:
It's with great sadness that we announce the untimely passing of Freda Oyston on Thursday 11th April 2024 aged 84.

Freda was well loved & known mainly for her efforts as Secretary of The Sunderland Disabled & Escorts Supporters Branch from the mid-1990s until the last few years due to her deteriorating health. Freda alongside her beloved husband Eddie Oyston (who sadly passed away in January 2021) along with many other fellow volunteers enabled thousands of Disabled & able-bodied people access tickets, travel & parking for Sunderland AFC home & away fixtures for over 25 years. At times at their own financial expense. Sometimes doing such a role endured criticism as she tried her best for people & sometimes she would upset people trying to protect disabled supporters when people were blocking their view at matches etc.
We know she was no angel & gave as much as she got at times but all through trying to do the right thing.


Freda had 2 landlines to her home in Durham whilst she was running the branch enabling her to keep on top of things for Supporters that required her assistance. Freda would arrange fundraising events for the branch like pie & pea suppers which were always well supported by current players, staff or managers at the time.

Freda assisted Sir Bob Murray former Sunderland AFC owner & chairman with feedback regarding Disabled access / facilities etc upon building the Stadium of Light, Wembley Stadium and beyond. She always fought for the good of the branch & supporters within it.

Freda absolutely loved Sunderland AFC going as far back as watching the Sunderland team return from the victorious 1973 FA Cup win where she stood at Carrville with her family as the team coach passed. Her passion for Sunderland was spurred on upon meeting Eddie in the early 1980's who was Sunderland to the core & they went to every home & away match for as long as I can remember until covid hit. They used to run the Durham Supporters Branch bus for away matches during the 80s / early 90s for away matches prior to setting up the Disabled Branch. For home matches they assisted various Disabled Supporters in their own car.

It will be The Sunderland Disabled & Escorts Supporters Branch that she will be best known for.

Freda was a true Sunderland legend who will be sadly missed by many supporters, friends, former SAFC players / staff / managers & especially her dear family of which she was a mother, grandmother & great grandmother.

Finally we would like to arrange a round of applause at the home game vs Millwall on Saturday 20th April 2024 on the 3rd minute for Freda & Eddie as they were married in 2003 (unfortunately Eddie passed during Covid so no supporters). I think they should be remembered together as 2 true Sunderland supporting legends that will be missed by many!


(I'm her grandson)
Click to expand...

RIP Freda, you will be a big miss at Sunderland AFC and at SAFCSA Disabled Branch . Condolences to you and your family and friends.
 


1982DurhamSAFC said:
It's with great sadness that we announce the untimely passing of Freda Oyston on Thursday 11th April 2024 aged 84.

Freda was well loved & known mainly for her efforts as Secretary of The Sunderland Disabled & Escorts Supporters Branch from the mid-1990s until the last few years due to her deteriorating health. Freda alongside her beloved husband Eddie Oyston (who sadly passed away in January 2021) along with many other fellow volunteers enabled thousands of Disabled & able-bodied people access tickets, travel & parking for Sunderland AFC home & away fixtures for over 25 years. At times at their own financial expense. Sometimes doing such a role endured criticism as she tried her best for people & sometimes she would upset people trying to protect disabled supporters when people were blocking their view at matches etc.
We know she was no angel & gave as much as she got at times but all through trying to do the right thing.


Freda had 2 landlines to her home in Durham whilst she was running the branch enabling her to keep on top of things for Supporters that required her assistance. Freda would arrange fundraising events for the branch like pie & pea suppers which were always well supported by current players, staff or managers at the time.

Freda assisted Sir Bob Murray former Sunderland AFC owner & chairman with feedback regarding Disabled access / facilities etc upon building the Stadium of Light, Wembley Stadium and beyond. She always fought for the good of the branch & supporters within it.

Freda absolutely loved Sunderland AFC going as far back as watching the Sunderland team return from the victorious 1973 FA Cup win where she stood at Carrville with her family as the team coach passed. Her passion for Sunderland was spurred on upon meeting Eddie in the early 1980's who was Sunderland to the core & they went to every home & away match for as long as I can remember until covid hit. They used to run the Durham Supporters Branch bus for away matches during the 80s / early 90s for away matches prior to setting up the Disabled Branch. For home matches they assisted various Disabled Supporters in their own car.

It will be The Sunderland Disabled & Escorts Supporters Branch that she will be best known for.

Freda was a true Sunderland legend who will be sadly missed by many supporters, friends, former SAFC players / staff / managers & especially her dear family of which she was a mother, grandmother & great grandmother.

Finally we would like to arrange a round of applause at the home game vs Millwall on Saturday 20th April 2024 on the 3rd minute for Freda & Eddie as they were married in 2003 (unfortunately Eddie passed during Covid so no supporters). I think they should be remembered together as 2 true Sunderland supporting legends that will be missed by many!


(I'm her grandson)
Click to expand...
Sincere condolences to you and all of Freda's family and friends. She sounds like a stalwart Sunderland supporter, a strong northern woman and a bloody decent human being to boot.

Rest in Power Freda
 
Same vintage as my Mam, another lovely lady.

I recognise her name as one of the devoted people who love our club but also put others enjoyment of the club high on their agenda.

Sorry your loss and best wishes to all her family and friends at this sad time.

RIP Freda x
 
Very sad reading about this. At times I had to get accessibility tickets for my wife and whilst we never travelled with the branch, she was always available for help/assistance..I didn't know Freda personally but you could tell she was very passionate about what she did for the disabled supporters branch, truth be told she must have been knackered as she put every into it everything day/week/match., absolutely brilliant commitment. An absolute credit to Sunderland, the community and footballing family. A very sad loss & I hope the club and supporters give her a send off she deserves for all her hard dedicated work and time she gave Sunderland and supporters. Condolences to the family but you should all look back with immense pride at the work she did, she was one in a million. Take care
 
Last edited:
The funeral for Freda Oyston has been arranged on Friday 10th May 2024 - 1330hrs at St. Aiden's Church, Front Street, Framwellgate Moor, Durham.


Family requests No football shirts but Sunderland scarfs & ties are fine.


Family only at the crematorium.

Also it would mean the world if we can do the applause tomorrow on the 3rd minute as per OP.

Much appreciated!
 

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