In memory of Michael ‘Sach’ Long

I was very sad to hear yesterday that my long-time friend Michael Long, known to everyone who met him as 'Sach', passed away after fighting ill health and a whole lot of pain for a number of years. He left behind a lovely wife and three great sons.

17 years ago, just before week 2 of the 1989 season I had one of many 'Letters to the Editor' published in the now defunct Giants Newsweekly. At the tender age of just 18 years old I informed the readership that I was travelling alone to NY on the first of what has turned out to be many visits to many games at Giants Stadium and wanted to meet up with some Giants fans to experience 'tailgating' before the game. I put in my contact details and asked that anyone willing to let me join their group for the day contact me c/o of my hotel the day before the game.

A devoted Giants fan living in the heart of Eagles country (Easton, PA) with a heart of pure gold, Sach had already left a message at my hotel before I even had checked in. We spoke on the phone soon after and he offered his hand in friendship, inviting me to join him, members of his family and the great group of people I now call friends down on parking lot 5H, directly under the sign, for a real bona-fide tailgating experience.

Just look for the short, round, red-headed guy with the big bushy beard and a smile permanently on his face he told me. The description fit him to a tee! He was as jolly a man as I’d ever met and he made me feel very much at home and welcome. He told me not to bring anything to eat or drink to the game as he’d make sure I was taken care of. He was right. It was American hospitality at its absolute finest and I knew there and then I’d made a friend for life. I just wish it wasn’t quite such a short life.

The type of guy who would help anyone at any time in any way he could, we hit it off immediately. He treated everyone like family. Needless to say, despite an age gap and the divide of continents we’ve been in touch ever since and with the exception of one year when I bought my apartment and couldn’t afford to get to the USA, we’d meet up. I valued that time greatly and it meant a lot to me when his eldest son, Michael jr, told me it did to him too. It wasn’t just at Giants Stadium we got together either as we went on a handful of ‘road trips’ together having a blast in places like Arizona and Chicago along the way. We may not always have won, but we always had fun.

I even stayed with him and his family on one occasion when money was tight in the midst of a 3 game trip and he insisted I save on hotel bills and stay with him instead. He truly was that kind of guy.

Sadly, this year Sach was hospitalised before I came over for the Bucs game and despite my plans to make my way into PA by bus and find a way to visit him in hospital, it just never happened.

I’m gonna miss him a great deal and I’ll certainly never forget him. I’m sure everyone else who got to know him well will feel the same way.

R.I.P buddy. I hope you’re smiling down on your Giants from heaven now, finally pain-free.

Written & Submitted by:

Ceri Dovey