AFC Wimbledon is leading the eulogies as he was a long time supporter of the club, first supporting it in 2006.

The club says it is saddened by his passing, with its former main stand at Kingsmeadow named in his honour.

Paul Strank was awarded an MBE in 2013 for services to charity and the community in Wimbledon and launched The Paul Strank Charitable Trust in 2016 with his wife Irene.

The Trust is best known for its celebrity events where thousands are raised for charitable causes like Shooting Star Children’s Hospice.

One such event was An Evening With Danny Dyer at Cherry Red Records Stadium.

You can hear Lucy Mayer’s report from the evening again, here.

AFC Wimbledon statement in full:

Everyone at AFC Wimbledon was saddened to hear of the sudden passing of long-term supporter and sponsor of the Club, Paul Strank MBE.

A lifelong fan of the Dons, Paul first became a sponsor of AFC Wimbledon back in 2006. Paul’s support has played an important part in the success of AFC Wimbledon over the years. The main stand at Kingsmeadow Stadium was renamed the Paul Strank Stand, and in 2024, Paul renewed his sponsorship with the Club at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, Plough Lane, sponsoring the North and later, the South stand.

In addition to this, Paul Strank Roofing were responsible for storing and then restoring the famous ‘Womble Till I Die’ gates which were previously situated at the old Plough Lane stadium and can now be found in the concourse of the Cappagh Stand.

Over the years Paul, his family and the business have been involved with several charity related events and activities benefitting those in need, organising everything from charity football matches and assisting local guilds’ Village Fairs to attempting World Records and jumping out of planes.

In 2013, Paul was awarded an MBE for his services to charity and the community, with the Roofing company having raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities including Children In Need and Chase Hospice since it started fundraising in 1982.

Established in 2016, The Paul Strank Charitable Trust was set up to support disadvantaged families, with a focus on alleviating poverty, illness or other hardship for children. The trust continues to pay for the Leyton Road Centre residents to enjoy matches at Plough Lane, as recently as last month.

We send our deepest condolences to Paul’s family and friends at this difficult time.