LEGENDARY Chris Bart-Williams, a former Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest player, has died.
The former Premier League player, who had been based in the United States in recent years, died at the age of 49.
In a statement Sheffield Wednesday wrote: “We are deeply saddened at the passing of our former player Chris Bart-Williams.”
When Francis was in charge of Sheffield Wednesday, he managed Bart-Williams, and the team paid respect to both players.
Sheffield Wednesday FC said: “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.”
Nottingham Forest said they were “deeply saddened”, adding: “Our thoughts go out to Chris’ family and friends at this truly difficult time.”
Bart-Williams, who earned 16 England Under-21 caps and one England ‘B’ cap, has dedicated over three decades of his life to football, both as a player and as a coach.
He was only 16 when he made the Leyton Orient first team.
His ability was quickly recognized, and he was promoted to Sheffield Wednesday.
The Owls paid £275,000 to bring him to Hillsborough in 1991, the year they were promoted to the English top division, known as the First Division at the time.
The Sierra Leone-born forward, dubbed “Bartman,” appeared 124 times for Wednesday, scoring 16 goals, including a hat-trick against Southampton.
Bart-Williams moved to Nottingham Forest for £2.5 million in 1995. Despite playing several games at sweeper, he played more than 200 games for Forest, scoring 30 times.
Forest’s last Premier League goal until 2022 would be the midfielder’s 76th-minute winner against Leicester in 1999.
After the City Ground team ran into financial difficulties, he moved to join Charlton in 2001.
Bart-Williams also played for Ipswich Town before heading to Cyprus.
He only played a few games for Marsaxlokk before hanging up his boots, that is, until he met American coach Tony DiCicco.
After retiring in 2006, he relocated to the United States to assist in the coaching of their successful women’s national team.
However, after more than five years in Connecticut, the coach claimed exhaustion.
In an interview with The Mirror in 2018, Bart-Williams stated, “I was burned out.” I needed to rest for three or four years to recover.
“I’d spent so much of my life – since I was 16 – in the professional game, followed by six or seven years coaching in Connecticut.” “I was finished.”
However, he swiftly established his own business working with children.
At the time, Bart-Williams said he could see himself living in the United States, speaking from his home in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“It’s very different,” he remarked. I certainly don’t miss the English weather!
“I miss the people, the banter, the fierce sarcasm, a good old cup of English tea, an English breakfast and the cultural environment, but Americans are very generous people, they really are.”
He added: “I do miss England at times, but we have a nice life over here, we really do.”
