Newcastle United Fans
It is with heavy hearts that we share the sudden and unexpected passing of our dear friend, Dave Cartman – a true Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Geordie legend, known and loved by so many. Dave’s infectious laughter, kindness, and vibrant personality touched the lives of everyone who knew him and many that didn’t with his jokes and laughter. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Liezel, and their beautiful 4-year-old son, Harrison. Losing a husband and father is an unimaginable loss, and Liezel now faces the daunting task of moving forward without her best friend by her side.
Born and raised in Newcastle and Northumberland, Dave was a dedicated Newcastle United fan and an integral part of expat fan groups in the Middle East. His sudden passing in the Philippines at the age of 45 has left his friends and family in shock. The news was shared on Wednesday, leaving loved ones heartbroken.
Ian, a close friend, fondly remembered Dave’s vibrant spirit and love for Newcastle United.
Ian said, “I used to joke with him that he had seven Newcastle tops – one for every day of the week. Dave was part of a group that came together in Abu Dhabi in around 2012 – some of them a bit before. It was a big group of expats in Abu Dhabi at the time, building hospitals and that sort of thing. I was introduced to Dave, who had just arrived. Our mate said he was going to be away for a month or two – could I look after Dave and introduce him to people? From my first meeting with him, Dave was a lot of good banter, a lot of good craic. He was a really fun guy and before I knew it he was bouncing around the place like Tigger. During Ramadan they would shut the bars until late, but being Dave he was friends with someone who had an Italian restaurant, so we would go there after work. That’s where there was a waitress – Liezel – and they hit it off straight away. Their boy is four now. Dave loved spending time with him, teaching him Geordie sayings and watching the games with him. This was out of the blue – we knew he’d been feeling poorly but never expected something like this. He’s his four-year-old son and he’s just lost his dad. We have raised just short of £4,000 – all we would like to do is get enough to cover the bills and give them some space to breathe. Dave was Newcastle through and through. And the thing about Dave is he would always support others. He really believed in helping people out in tough times.”
Dave also became part of the Dubai Mags supporters group. His friends reminisced about the presence of Northumberland-born England international Trevor Steven, who went to the same school as Dave and was occasionally found watching football with him. Dave’s friends shared that, despite looking back through messages and sensing that he hadn’t been feeling his best, it was still hard to believe he is no longer here.
