From manutd.com:
‘It was with enormous regret and deep sorrow that Manchester United received news of Les Olive's passing. He died on Saturday night, aged 78, following a long and courageous battle against cancer.
To many, his name may not immediately jump out as one of the major figures in Manchester United's history, but his vast contribution to the club's successes and its lofty standing in sporting circles cannot be overstated.
In these days of huge players' salaries, enormous transfer fees, sponsorship, commercialism and global television coverage it's easy to forget some of the people who have spent their lives in the service of their clubs.
There are countless unsung heroes who work selflessly for the benefit of the club they love and it matters little whether they are volunteers or paid members of staff. Their contribution can regularly go unrecognised or simply taken for granted in the hurly-burly of professional football.
Attached To United For 64 Years
In truth, that isn't really the case with Les Olive for, amongst football administrators, he ranked in the highest echelons. But his towering place in the annals of Manchester United was, to a great degree, unrecorded away from the confines of Old Trafford. He was club secretary for 30 years, a player before that and was involved to his final days as a member of the club's board of directors.
In all he was attached to Manchester United - man and boy - for 64 years. He joined the club direct from school as a 14-year-old office boy after applying for a trial for the playing staff.
He eventually got his wish of playing for his beloved United, appearing for the juniors, reserves and then, in April 1953, he made two consecutive appearances, as goalkeeper, in the first team.
Les had been a defender in his earlier years, but it was not as a player that he was to become one of the finest servants Manchester United, or any other club for that matter, has ever possessed.
Les Olive was thrust into the centre of the club's affairs in the most harrowing of circumstances in February 1958 following the tragedy of the
Twenty-three club personnel perished on the icy wastes of a
Amongst those who lost their lives was Walter Crickmer, the then club secretary. Mr Olive, who was appointed assistant secretary in 1955, was charged with navigating the club through its darkest hour. Still only 28 years of age, he was faced with the tasks of contacting families, relatives and friends and arranging numerous funerals.
Almost automatically he was promoted to the position of secretary, a position he would hold for three decades, during which time he would become one of the most respected figures in the game.
Ambassador For Local Football
Les Olive was a popular secretary to staff and fans alike. He was always available, approachable and considerate. He may not have always provided the desired reply, but it was invariably the right decision for the individual and even more importantly for Manchester United.
His dedication and devotion to local football stretched further than the familiar and famous surroundings of Old Trafford. In 1959 he joined the Manchester County Football Association as Manchester United's representative, a role he undertook for countless years. He later became a life member and Honorary President of the Association, acting as an ambassador for grass-roots football in the
He was involved in all aspects of the Manchester FA's work in areas such as governance, administration, development and education. He was serving until just a couple of years ago on the Staffing and Benevolent Committees and actively involved in the Association's thriving social fund-raising events organised by local charities.
Despite being attached for most of his life to one of the world's most glamorous clubs, he always retained his affection for the amateur game and those clubs further down the scale.
Mr Olive was also a keen devotee of the club's reserve and junior teams, taking in their matches whenever time and commitments allowed.
Dedicated Family Man
Away from football he was dedicated to his family - wife Betty, daughter Susan - as well as being an active member at his local church, acting at various times as treasurer and secretary at Salford Central Congregational.
Everyone at Manchester United sends their sincere condolences to Mrs Olive, to Susan, their wider family and friends at this extremely distressing time.