Former Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest midfielder Chris Bart-Williams has died on the age of 49, the golf equipment have introduced.
Wednesday mentioned the ex-England Under-21 worldwide died within the US, the place he had been working as a coach and mentor.
The information got here on the identical day because the loss of life of each golf equipment’ former striker Trevor Francis, who died aged 69.
“Bart-Williams’ untimely passing mirrors that of his manager at Hillsborough Trevor Francis, who also died on this, one of the darkest days in our long history,” an announcement from Wednesday mentioned.
“Our thoughts are with Chris’ and Trevor’s families and friends at this devastating time.”
Sierra Leone-born Bart-Williams, who started his profession as a trainee at Leyton Orient, made greater than 150 appearances for Wednesday, for whom he performed within the Premier League as a youngster, earlier than incomes a £2.5million transfer to Forest in July 1995.
He performed 248 video games for Forest and later had spells with Charlton and Ipswich earlier than transferring into teaching within the (*49*) States following his retirement as a player, initially working in girls’s school soccer.
Describing himself on his social media accounts as “coach, college recruiter, former footballer”, Bart-Williams was proprietor and chief government officer of US College Soccer recruiting company CBW Soccer Elite, working with college-bound gamers.
His LinkedIn profile reads: “As a retired athlete with 35 years of international playing and coaching experience, I’m passionate about developing young adults into highly successful soccer players.
“My goal is to empower kids to have the confidence and technical ability to excel in soccer while learning valuable lessons in responsibility and teamwork that will prepare them for a lifetime of success. Everything I do is designed to maximize athletes’ unique potential and propel them to their personal best in soccer and in life.”
In February final yr, Florida-based Dade County introduced Bart-Williams had been appointed as its head coach to supervise all its soccer programmes.
News of his loss of life was greeted with shock by former team-mate Mark Crossley.
The goalkeeper, who performed with Bart-Williams at Forest, mentioned on social media: “Devastating and I’m so upset to hear the news of Trevor Francis passing and my former team mate Chris Bart Williams, both so young, it is so sad , RIP Trevor and Chris.”
Ipswich additionally provided their condolences, posting: “The club is saddened to learn of the passing of former player Chris Bart-Williams. Once a Blue, always a Blue.”
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