Chris Bart-Williams, the man who scored the goal that secured promotion to the Premier League for Nottingham Forest in 1998, has died.
Sheffield Wednesday confirmed the 49-year-old passed away in Florida, where he had been coaching the next generation of young footballers.
“We are deeply saddened at the passing of our former player Chris Bart-Williams,” a Sheffield Wednesday statement read.
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Bart-Williams had been only 16 when he was handed his debut by then Leyton Orient manager Frank Clark – who would later sign him for Forest – in 1990.
He came through the junior England age groups alongside players including Robbie Fowler, Sol Campbell and Andrew Cole.
After establishing himself as a first-team regular at Orient, he joined Sheffield Wednesday in November 1991 – where he played in an FA Cup final, a League Cup semi-final and in the UEFA Cup.
At Hillsborough, he played under Trevor Francis – himself a Forest legend, after scoring the goal that won the European Cup in 1979 – who’s own death was confirmed on Monday.
Bart-Williams was signed by Forest for £2.5million ($3.1m in today’s currency) in 1995.
It was a move that reunited him with Clark and the versatile Bart-Williams made 238 starts and eight substitute appearances during six-and-a-half years with Forest, scoring 35 goals. He played in almost every position, ranging from sweeper to striker.
He scored Forest’s last goal in the Premier League as they bowed out of the top flight with a 1-0 win over Leicester City in 1999. But he will be best remembered for the goal that had earned them promotion in April 1998, on a day when relegation-battling Reading had held out until the 87th minute at the City Ground.
A long punt from a free kick was collected beautifully by Bart-Williams amid a crowded area, and he swivelled sharply before driving a low shot across goal into the bottom corner.
He was frozen out under Paul Hart – who wanted to lower the average age of his squad during his tenure as manager – before being allowed to join Charlton on loan during the 2001-02 season.
In the summer of 2002 he joined Charlton permanently. He went on to play for Ipswich and APOEL, before moving into coaching.
Bart-Williams lived in Florida and worked at the soccer academy in Coral Gables, one of the most affluent areas in Miami-Dade County. He also coached young footballers through his business, CBW Soccer Elite.
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Bart-Williams also had a spell as assistant coach of Boston Breakers in the WPSL (Women’s Premier Soccer League) – working under former U.S. Women’s head coach Tony DiCicco – and another as assistant coach at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut.
In April, he returned to the City Ground for the first time in almost 20 years, to watch the 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers. At the time, he spoke about his fond memories playing for the club.
GO DEEPER
Chris Bart-Williams: 'Forest is an intimidating club to play for. It always will be'
(Photo: Ross Kinnaird/Allsport via Getty Images)
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