The #SWFC family has been dealt a second heartbreaking blow today. The sudden deaths of Trevor Francis and Chris Bart Williams, two Forest heroes, within a short period have shocked the football entire community.
Chris Bart-Williams, a Nottingham Forest icon from the 1990s, passed away suddenly at the age of 49. The passing of former midfielder Chris Bart-Williams on Monday, only hours after it was revealed that Trevor Francis, the man who brought him to Hillsborough, had died, has rocked Wednesday even more.
During his time at Hillsborough, Chris Bart-Williams rose to the top in the eyes of the supporters. He was a sweet young man who was nice, witty, and an incredibly gifted football player. Let’s see what happened to him and Chris Bart-Williams’s cause of death in this post.
Chris Bart-Williams died at 49
The football community and fans all across the world express their sorrow over the passing of this gifted and well-liked player.
Former Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest midfielder Chris Bart-Williams passed away at the young age of 49. Chris Bart-Williams cause of death was unclear at this time of publication.
Due to his eight seasons in the Premier League’s top division in the 1990s, the former midfielder developed into somewhat of a cult figure.
In 1991, Bart-Williams joined Sheffield Wednesday for a then-club-record fee of £275k after making his senior debut with Leyton Orient.
Before leaving the Owls in 1995 to join Nottingham Forest for £2.5 million, he made 156 appearances for them and scored 24 goals.
💙 The Club is saddened to learn of the passing of former player Chris Bart-Williams.
— Ipswich Town (@IpswichTown) July 24, 2023
Once a Blue, always a Blue. #itfc pic.twitter.com/Q5iSlYPUSw
Christopher Gerald Bart-Williams Career Highlights
Christopher Gerald Bart-Williams, an English football coach and former professional player, was born in Sierra Leone and died on July 24, 2023.
He was a defender and a midfielder who most famously played for Charlton Athletic, Sheffield Wednesday, and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
He also played for Leyton Orient and Ipswich Town in the Football League, APOEL in Cyprus, and Marsaxlokk in Malta.
Although he never received a full England cap, he was given a chance to represent England at the youth level, went on to play for the under-21 team, and was invited up to practice with the senior squad.
After retiring, Bart-Williams transitioned into coaching in the United States, most notably serving as an assistant coach for SoccerPlus Connecticut of the Women’s Premier Soccer League.
“Bart-Williams as a successful coach”
Bart-Williams relocated to the US to teach alongside Tony DiCicco, the previous head coach of the US Women’s National Team, after retiring from professional play.
He worked as an assistant for the WPSL team Boston Breakers. He also served as the club’s head coach for the reserve teams for SoccerPlus Connecticut.
As an assistant coach, Bart-Williams joined the Quinnipiac University men’s soccer team and assisted in guiding them to the 2013 MAAC Conference title and the opening round of the NCAA tournament. Additionally, he spent six years as an assistant coach for the men’s football team at Quinnipiac University.
Talented student-athletes were placed in American college soccer programs by Bart-Williams’ CBW Soccer Elite, an international soccer training and college recruiting agency.
In addition, Bart-Williams served as the director of the boys’ soccer program at Miami, Florida’s Gulliver Schools and served as a consultant for Charlotte Soccer Academy’s U.S. Soccer Development Academy program.
Chris Bart-Williams cause of death
The former professional football player and English coach passed away early on July 24, 2023, in the United States, where he served as a coach and mentor, Sheffield Wednesday revealed.
His passing coincides with that of Trevor Francis, whom Forest acquired from Birmingham City in 1979 and who became the first footballer to earn £1 million in Britain.
When Francis was in command of Sheffield Wednesday, he also oversaw Bart-Williams and used him as a substitute in the 1993 FA Cup final, which saw the Owls lose to Arsenal after a replay.
The former defender and midfielder, who was best known for his work with Sheffield, Nottingham Forest, and Charlton Athletic in the Premier League, was declared dead following a severe heart attack, according to his management.
Therefore, Chris Bart-Williams cause of death was not revealed yet. At this point, we have very little information about his passing but will update you as further details emerge.
We’ll update this article as soon as additional information becomes available on Chris Bart-Williams cause of death. Moreover, the family’s privacy must be respected even though attempts are being made to compile pertinent information and promptly deliver the most recent updates.
Tributes from Former Teammates
Several media outlets have now announced his passing at the young age of 49, and many of his former teammates, many of whom played with him at Hillsborough, have expressed their love.
Former Nottingham Forest teammates Mark Crossley and Kevin Campbell expressed their profound sadness at the news. Crossley took to Twitter, saying, “Devastating and I’m so upset to hear the news of Trevor Francis passing and my former teammate Chris Bart-Williams, both so young, it is so sad, RIP Trevor and Chris.” Campbell shared his grief, posting, “R.I.P. Chris, love you, Bartman! My lil brother we shared such great moments and I truly am devastated at the extremely sad news!”
Mark Bright, who was a teammate of ‘Bartman’ at S6, said on Twitter, “My heart is heavy, RIP my former @swfc teammate Chris Bart-Williams, a wonderfully gifted player, with a huge personality, and a very charismatic guy. To know him was to love him, sending love to his family, friends, and former teammates.”
It comes as more sad news on the same day that another former Owl, Trevor Francis, passed away at the age of 69, and Kevin Pressman paid tribute to both, saying, “Devastating day, to hear the news of Trevor Francis passing and my former teammate Chris Bart Williams. both were taken so soon. RIP Trevor and Chris.”
OBITUARY
Saying goodbye to someone we love is heartbreaking. May you find comfort in all the special memories shared with Chris Bart-Williams.
I write this obituary with a heavy heart to inform you of the demise of Former Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest midfielder Chris Bart-Williams. Chris Bart-Williams passed away at the young age of 49. He was a great player for both Birmingham and Nottingham Forest.
Many people’s lives were impacted by his work as the head coach at the Gables Soccer Academy, both on and off the pitch.
We send our sincere condolences to Chris Bart-Williams’ family, friends, and everyone else whose life he touched as we mourn his passing. During this difficult period of mourning and reflection, our thoughts and prayers are with them.
Moreover, his family will make further announcements regarding funeral services and preparations. No details on survivors were immediately available. And as soon as we receive official reports, we will update the information.
Also, feel free to drop your condolences below in the comment section.
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Lavanya (Senior Editor) is a full-time content writer with almost 5 years of experience and a part-time teacher. She joined Medico Topics on the Breaking News trainee scheme in 2022 and now works on MedicoTopics.com. As a lifelong learner, She is constantly curious about learning new things and passionate about sharing knowledge with people through her writing and teaching.
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