FOOTBALLERS’ TRIBUTE TO CLUB FOUNDER CRAIG
Players and officials hold celebration of life
FOOTBALLERS gathered to celebrate the life of their club’s co-founder.
Craig Brown, co-founder and assistant coach of FC 41, died at his home in Lockwood Street, Baddeley Green last month, aged 51.
FC 41 formed during the pandemic last year and were due to play their first match since Craig’s death on Saturday, but the Staffs County League game against Ball Haye
Green was called off due to the weather.
Instead, players joined club officials – including former chairman Kevin Lawton – supporters and friends at the No 41 pub in Milton for a memorial event. Craig’s favourite songs were played and a tribute wreath was placed outside the pub.
FC 41 manager Tim Hyatt, a close friend of Craig’s, says it was good for everyone involved in the club to be able to pay tribute to their co-founder.
He said: “The league had been really good and allowed us to take a couple of weeks off after Craig died. It was due to be an away fixture but Ball Haye Green agreed to switch it to Northwood Stadium, where we play our home matches.
“Unfortunately the game had to be called off because of the weather, but we decided to go to the pub and hold the memorial there.
“Obviously a lot of people were upset, but we decided Craig wouldn’t have wanted it to be all morbid, so it became a bit of a party atmosphere. We were celebrating Craig’s life, and playing some of the music he liked. I think that’s what Craig would have wanted.”
FC 41’s interim chairwoman Heather Bayliss, below, was among those who spoke at the event. She said: “It was really important that we were still able to get everyone together after the game was cancelled – Tim was really good at thinking on his feet and organising the event at No 41. A lot of the players have been badly affected by Craig’s passing.
“I’ve never seen so many grown men openly upset – but it’s good they were able to express that, given the issues around mental health we’re seeing.”
Craig grew up in Abbey Hulton and played for Abbey Hulton Suburban Club. He also had links to Abbey Hulton United, Eastwood Hanley and Milton United.
He and a group of friends formed FC 41 last year to give themselves something to do during the lockdown.
Tim, who was also among the club’s co-founders, added: “Craig would want the club to continue and go from strength to strength. Craig was one of the six founders of the club, and it was his idea to focus on youth.
“Our oldest first team player is only 24, and we have a few 16-year-olds playing in the reserves. And everyone trains together with the under-17s. That was Craig’s idea and that will always be a part of the club.”