Tributes paid after death of former Sheffield Wednesday player Chris Bart-Williams
The club announced his death
Last updated 25th Jul 2023
Former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Chris Bart-Williams has died at the age of 49.
A statement on Sheffield Wednesday's website said:
"Sheffield Wednesday are deeply saddened at the passing of our former player Chris Bart-Williams.
"Bart-Williams died in America, aged just 49.
"The prodigiously talented midfielder joined the Owls in 1991 after bursting onto the scene as a teenager with Leyton Orient and went on to become an immensely popular performer in S6.
"‘Bartman’ made 156 appearances for Wednesday across four years at the club, providing a raft of standout moments, not least a Premier League hat-trick against Southampton in April 1993."
The news came on the same day as the death former Owls 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," a statement from Sheffield Wednesday said.
"Our thoughts are with Chris' and Trevor's families and friends at this devastating time."
Describing himself on his social media accounts as "coach, college recruiter, former footballer", Bart-Williams was owner and chief executive officer of US College Soccer recruiting agency CBW Soccer Elite, working with college-bound players.
In February last year, Florida-based Dade County announced Bart-Williams had been appointed as its head coach to oversee all its football programmes.
He also played at Nottingham Forest, Charlton Athletic, Leyton Orient and Ipswich Town.