Pauls Obituary in the West Sussex County Times on 28th October 1993

Parks football in Horsham lost one of its most enthusiastic servants on Monday night with the death of Paul Brant, aged 54.

Mr Brant, of Clarence Road, Horsham, was the driving force behind Horsham Baptists. He died in hospital after suffering a heart attack, leaving a wife, Sylvia, a son, Richard, and three daughters, Susan, Caroline and Marion.

Richard said this week; "He had many interests, but his biggest love was his football, particularly Horsham Baptists. 

"We talked about postponing tomorrow's match out of respect, but that is the last thing he would have wanted."

Mr Brant was born in London and enjoyed success as a promising sportsman.

He was on Tottenham's books as youngster and played representative cricket and table tennis for Essex junior teams.

After moving to Fittleworth, he become involved in village football with important roles at both Fittleworth and West Chiltington.

But it was after moving to Horsham in1977 that he, Richard and a few volunteers set up reviving Baptists.

They were re-formed in 1981 and won promotion from Division 5 North of the West Sussex League in their first season. He was first team manager for ten years before being succeeded by Richard.

But he continued to serve the club tirelessly in an administrative role, carrying out many important duties.

Mr Brant was also well known among people with no interest in sport, notably for his stint as minister at Fittleworth church and, in later years, as a lay preacher around small churches in the Horsham area. 

He was a member of Brighton Road Baptists Church in Horsham and sometimes preached there.

In the business world Mr Brant was something of an entrepreneur and was involved in a series of ventures.

He travelled extensively, visting more than 30 countries.

He was also a founder member and one-time chairman of the Twinning Association between Horsham and the German town of Lage, giving around 20 years service.

But gootball remained his biggest love and he was a enthusiastic contributor to the dports pages of the West Sussex County Times, providing us with results, goalscorers and plenty of informed opinion on the clubs prospects.

An excellent example of his enthusiasm for Baptists came at the end of last season, when I was sitting in the back row of the stand at Horsham Football Club, reporting on the Tony Kopp final.

Suddenly, a gasping figure came rushing up the steps and told me breathlessly: "I've got some news fot you. Baptists have just drawn 1-1 at Rudgwick."

There then followed enough details on the match to have filled the back page from someone who was clearly loving every minute of his team's title chase.

Baptists dedicated their 2-1 win over Billingshurst on Monday to Mr Brant and were going to tell him about it the next morning. Sadly, he never heard about theit triumph.

A special service in his memory will be held at Brighton Road Baptist Church on Tuesday (2pm) followed by the cremation at Worth (3.30pm).

Said Richard: He would love people to be there. He was very happy and jolly, not a solemn a person, and that's the way we want to treat things now."