Eddie Rosen

Edward Steele "Eddie" Rosen was the second son of Michael Rosen. He was described by Michael as being "very big and very funny". He died at the age of 18 on April 26, 1999 from meningococcal septicaemia. 

Eddie or "Big Eddie" as I knew him as, was my mate and our hockey goalkeeper. Goalkeepers always had to have a larger than life personality. Eddie had that. I have seen pictures of us and he wasn't that big, but when he was in goal his personality made him 8ft tall and 5ft wide. He was always the centre of the jokes in the minibus. We spent at least three times a week in the minibus, so there was a lot of jokes. 

Eddie and I weren't close, but he was my team mate and if he had of asked for anything he knew that the answer was yes, as did we all. That togetherness and close bond as a team has remained to this day. I have never written or said much about Eddie, I have never read Michael's book, or visited the grave but as I have got older it hits me each year a little bit more. 

Part of Eddie's legacy is we get together each year to celebrate his life, we have a laugh and a joke, we play a crazy 20 man-a-side hockey match and present a trophy which was his hockey glove, with a bottle of beer mounted on a bit of 2x4 wood. His legacy brings us together, so I say "thank you Eddie" as I think only you could have done this.

Ben Whibley

 I vividly remember Eddie being the embodiment of the Gunners Spirit! Larger than life in more ways than one, whether on the pitch bossing the back line, which I was usually part of, in his intimidating Anaheim Ducks NHL hockey shirt, or holding court off the turf once the final whistle had gone. One liners poured from him and quizzical yet jocular enquiry had the masses in stitches every Saturday. I was lucky enough to have a seat next to him on the minibus and rarely did we stop smiling as we journeyed around the eastern counties. When we graduated to the higher teams of Old Loughtonians, the Gunners connection never left us, and we were all looking forward to reconvening in the National League 1st XI squad when we had advanced our levels sufficiently. Sadly it was never to be and I remember exactly where I was when I got the fateful call one Spring morning, Eddie was dead.

They say friendships formed in adversity are amongst the strongest, and whilst we mourned Eddie it cemented the bonds forged all those years ago on the concrete pitches of Inner London, the indoor astro in the Arsenal stadium and the long Essex away minibus trips. But those dark years also brought outpourings of humour and joy when we remembered the life Eddie had and the brief time we shared. It is testament to his character that we continue to defy time and meet in his name at least once a year, and we are grateful to Eastbourne HC and the opportunity they have given us to hold a new tournament in his honour, and to raise funds for the Meningitis Research Foundation. Eddie would have been first on the pitch, playing the Gunners way, and first with a drink in hand post-game. We thank you for all your support and hope that during this second Saffrons Sixes you will join us in playing the positive hockey that Eddie would have been proud of, as well as raising a toast of something suitable to absent friends.

Ollie Davies

Eddie Rosen—known to so many simply as “Big Eddie”—was more than just a towering presence in goal; he was a one-of-a-kind friend, a natural entertainer, and the beating heart of every room he entered. We shared so many unforgettable nights exploring the wild corners of Islington nightlife—Eddie always chasing the next laugh, the next story, the next round. He had a beaming smile that could light up a dark pub and a laugh so big and infectious it could stop strangers in their tracks. Some of the best memories came on hockey trips, packed into the team minibus, where Eddie was always centre stage—spinning stories, cracking jokes, scribbling his best lines into a little notebook he kept just for that purpose. He was destined for something special, not just because of his immense talent as a goalkeeper, but because of the joy and brilliance he brought to all our lives.

His sudden passing from Meningococcal Septicaemia—going to bed with a high fever and never waking up—was a devastating shock. We still feel that absence every day. That’s why we created the Saffrons 6s: to celebrate Eddie’s life, to raise funds for the Meningitis Research Foundation, and to spread awareness of the symptoms of meningitis—because caught early, it can be treated. In true Eddie fashion, we’ve also collaborated on a children’s joke book, packed with humour contributed by those who loved him. It’s a tribute to the laughter he lived for—and a way to keep his spirit shining on.

Sam Jennings