Who was Chris Bart-Williams and when did he play for Sheffield Wednesday?

THE news that Chris Bart-Williams had sadly passed away was confirmed in July 2023.

Bart-Williams, a football legend in the UK, died when he was just 49 years old.

Chris Bart-Williams, formerly of Nottingham Forest, sadly passed away in July 2023 at just 49 years oldRoss Kinnaird /Allsport

Who was Chris Bart-Williams?

Bart-Williams was a former football player and coach.

He won 16 England Under-21 caps and one England ‘B’ cap, and spent more than three decades of his life involved in the sport.

After retiring from playing in 2006, he moved to the United States and helped coach their successful women’s national team. 

Chris’ death was confirmed in a statement from his former team Sheffield Wednesday on July 24, 2023.

In the statement, the club said: “We are deeply saddened at the passing of our former player Chris Bart-Williams.”

His death came the same day ex-Nottingham Forest forward and England legend Trevor Francis died aged 69.

Francis also played for Sheffield Wednesday and the team played tribute to both stars.

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.”

No cause of death had been revealed publicly for Bart-Williams at the time of writing.

Was Chris Bart-Williams married?

According to reports, Bart-Williams was married.

He is said to have wed a woman named Eva who moved to the US with him when he found work over there.

When did Chris Bart-Williams work at Sheffield Wednesday?

Bart-Williams signed to Sheffield Wednesday in 1991, the year they were promoted to the English top flight, the First Division, as it was then known.

The team shelled out £275,000 to land him.

The Sierra Leone-born player made 124 appearances for Wednesday and scored 16 goals.

It was for Wednesday that Bart-Williams famously scored a hat-trick against Southampton.

Bart-Williams then joined Nottingham Forest in 1995 in a £2.5million move.

He played more than 200 games there and scored 30 goals.

In 2001, Bart-Williams joined Charlton after the City Ground club found themselves in financial trouble.

Bart-Williams played for Ipswich for a short period before he jetted to Cyprus.

There, he played a handful of games at Marsaxlokk before retiring.

He then met American coach Tony DiCicco and, under DiCicco’s guidance, led two women’s teams in the states.

While in America, Bart-Williams became the owner and chief executive officer of the college soccer recruiting agency CBW Soccer Elite.

In February 2022, he was announced as the head coach at Florida-based Dade County.

Speaking to The Mirror in 2018, Bart-Williams opened up about missing living in England.

He said: “It’s very different. I don’t miss the English weather, that’s for sure!

“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.” 

Bart-Williams added: “I do miss England at times, but we have a nice life over here, we really do.”