Chris Bart-Williams

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Chris Bart-Williams

| image = Chris Bart-Williams 2018.jpg

| caption = Bart-Williams in 2018

| full_name = Christopher Gerald Bart-Williams

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1974|6|16}}{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/chris-bart-williams-760/|title=Chris Bart-Williams|website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |accessdate=30 May 2020}}

| birth_place = Freetown, Sierra Leone

| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|7|24|1974|6|16|df=y}}

| death_place = Miami, Florida, US{{cite news |title=Chris Bart-Williams: Former Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder dies aged 49 |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12926943/chris-bart-williams-former-nottingham-forest-and-sheffield-wednesday-midfielder-dies-aged-49 |access-date=25 July 2023 |work=Sky Sports |date=25 July 2023 |language=en}}

| height = 1.80 m

| position = Defender, midfielder

| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–1990

| youthclubs1 = Leyton Orient

| years1 = 1990–1991

| years2 = 1991–1995

| years3 = 1995–2002

| years4 = 2001–2002

| years5 = 2002–2003

| years6 = 2003

| years7 = 2003–2004

| years8 = 2004–2005

| years9 = 2005–2006

| clubs1 = Leyton Orient

| clubs2 = Sheffield Wednesday

| clubs3 = Nottingham Forest

| clubs4 = → Charlton Athletic (loan)

| clubs5 = Charlton Athletic

| clubs6 = → Ipswich Town (loan)

| clubs7 = Ipswich Town

| clubs8 = APOEL

| clubs9 = Marsaxlokk

| caps1 = 36

| caps2 = 124

| caps3 = 207

| caps4 = 6

| caps5 = 23

| caps6 = 16

| caps7 = 10

| caps8 = 19

| caps9 = 8

| goals1 = 2

| goals2 = 16

| goals3 = 30

| goals4 = 0

| goals5 = 2

| goals6 = 2

| goals7 = 0

| goals8 = 0

| goals9 = 0

| totalcaps = 449

| totalgoals = 52

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalyears2 = 1992–1995

| nationalyears3 = 1994

| nationalteam1 = England U19

| nationalteam2 = England U21

| nationalteam3 = England B

| nationalcaps1 = 7

| nationalcaps2 = 16

| nationalcaps3 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalgoals2 = 2

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| manageryears1 =

| managerclubs1 = Boston Breakers (assistant coach)

| manageryears2 =

| managerclubs2 = SoccerPlus Connecticut

| manageryears3 =

| managerclubs3 = Quinnipiac Bobcats (assistant coach)

| manageryears4 =

| managerclubs4 = CBW Soccer Elite

| manageryears5 =

| managerclubs5 = Gulliver Raiders

| manageryears6 = 2022–2023

| managerclubs6 = Dade County F.C.

}}

Christopher Gerald Bart-Williams (16 June 1974 – 24 July 2023) was a football coach and professional player. Born in Sierra Leone, he represented England internationally.

As a player, he was a defender and midfielder and notably played in the Premier League for Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest and Charlton Athletic. He also played in the Football League for Leyton Orient and Ipswich Town, in Cyprus with APOEL and in Malta with Marsaxlokk. Born in Sierra Leone, He was capped by England at youth level and went on to play for England under-21s and was called up to train with the senior squad although he never won a full England cap.

Following retirement, Bart-Williams moved into coaching in the United States and notably worked as assistant coach of Women's Premier Soccer League side SoccerPlus Connecticut.

Early life

Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Bart-Williams grew up in North London and attended The School of St. David's and St Katharine's in Hornsey.

Playing career

File:Bart williams.jpg

=Early career=

Bart-Williams began his professional career at the age of 16 with Leyton Orient and scored on his debut, a 4–0 win against Tranmere Rovers on 2 February 1991.{{cite web | title=Former midfielder Bart-Williams dies aged 49 | website=BBC Sport | date=25 July 2023 | url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66297415 | access-date=25 July 2023}} He made 36 league appearances with the club and scored twice.{{cite web |title=Chris Bart-Williams |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=460 |website=Soccerbase |access-date=26 July 2023}}

=Sheffield Wednesday=

Sheffield Wednesday showed interest in him and subsequently bought him for £275,000 in November 1991, the year they won promotion to the Football League First Division and were also winners of the Football League Cup.

Once with Sheffield Wednesday, Bart-Williams was immediately given a first-team place. He began his career playing as an attacking midfielder. On 12 April 1993, he scored a hat-trick against Southampton in a 5–2 win.{{cite news |last=Andrews |first=Phil |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-wednesdays-strength-in-depth-1454980.html |title=Wednesday's strength in depth |date=13 April 1993 |accessdate=15 September 2014 |work=The Independent |location=London}}

Bart-Williams played for Wednesday as a substitute in the 1993 FA Cup Final replacing Chris Waddle in the first game{{cite news |last1=Fox |first1=Norman |title=Sport Football / FA Cup Final: Hirst keeps Wednesday in the hunt: Arsenal fail to follow Wright path to victory as fatigue brings a disappointing stalemate |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football--fa-cup-final-hirst-keeps-wednesday-in-the-hunt-arsenal-fail-to-follow-wright-path-to-victory-as-fatigue-brings-a-disappointing-stalemate-2323147.html |access-date=26 July 2023 |work=Independent |date=26 May 1993}} and Roland Nilsson towards the end of the replay.{{cite news |last1=Lovejoy |first1=Joe |title=Football / FA Cup Final Replay: Wednesday left in Linighan's wake: Waddle's heroics end in tears as an unsung defender plays poacher to give Arsenal unprecedented double |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football--fa-cup-final-replay-wednesday-left-in-linighans-wake-waddles-heroics-end-in-tears-as-an-unsung-defender-plays-poacher-to-give-arsenal-unprecedented-double-2324318.html |access-date=26 July 2023 |work=Independent |date=21 May 1993}}

Bart-Williams also helped the Owls reach the Football League Cup semi-finals in the 1993–94 season and also appeared in their short-lived UEFA Cup campaign (the club's first European run since the 1960s) the previous season.{{cn|date=July 2023}}

=Nottingham Forest=

After four years, he moved to Nottingham Forest for the sum of £2.5 million. Bart-Williams had a successful spell with Forest, and even though he played as a defensive midfielder he managed to score 35 goals, even being the club's top scorer in the 2000–01 season, and was often clinical from free kicks and penalties.{{cn|date=July 2023}}

During a game in 2000, Forest tried to experiment with their formation by playing 3–5–2 and played Bart-Williams as a sweeper. This experiment turned out to be a successful one as Nottingham Forest won 5–0 against Burnley, with Bart-Williams scoring twice.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/988910.stm |title=Nottm Forest 5-0 Burnley |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 October 2000}}

In 2001, Forest found themselves in financial difficulties and had to sell their better players. Bart-Williams turned down moves to Southampton{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/1637972.stm |title=Saints target Bart-Williams |publisher=BBC News |date=5 November 2001}} and Birmingham City.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/1535347.stm |title=Bart-Williams snubs Blues |publisher=BBC News |date=12 September 2001}}

=Later career=

In December 2001, Bart-Williams left Forest, signing for Charlton Athletic, initially on a short-term contract.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/1689171.stm |title=Charlton swoop for Bart-Williams |publisher=BBC News |date=3 December 2001}} In May 2002, he signed a new two-year deal at the club.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/1979145.stm |title=Bart-Williams secures deal |publisher=BBC News |date=12 June 2002}} Bart-Williams had 20 appearances and two goals.

After spending two seasons with Charlton, Bart-Williams moved to Ipswich Town, initially on loan in September 2003,{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/3096390.stm |title=Ipswich complete Bart-Williams deal |publisher=BBC News |date=11 September 2003}} and then permanently for the rest of the 2003–04 season. He was released at the end of the season and decided to move away from English football.{{cn|date=July 2023}}

Next for Bart-Williams was a move to APOEL in Cyprus in September 2004. He had been linked with a return to Nottingham Forest, although the rumour was denied by Forest.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/3627608.stm |title=Forest snub Bart-Williams |publisher=BBC News |date=4 September 2004}}

After unsuccessful attempts to lure Paul Gascoigne to the club,{{cite web | last=Lalor | first=Eric | last2=Boyle | first2=Callum | last3=Carr | first3=Hugh | last4=Fleming | first4=Rory | title=JOE's forgotten footballers: Chris Bart-Williams | website=JOE.ie | date=9 March 2014 | url=https://www.joe.ie/sport/joes-forgotten-footballers-chris-bart-williams-414068 | access-date=25 July 2023}} on 6 August 2005 Maltese team Marsaxlokk signed Bart-Williams.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/Kind=2/newsId=332779.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051018093328/http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/Kind=2/newsId=332779.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 October 2005 |title=Bart-Williams form |publisher=UEFA |date=22 June 2013}} But he managed only eight appearances and was sent home only two months into his three-year contract.{{citation needed|date=May 2012}}

Coaching career

After retiring from professional play, Bart-Williams moved to the United States to coach alongside former U.S. women's national soccer team head coach Tony DiCicco. He served as an assistant for the Boston Breakers, a team in the WPSL. He also was head coach of their reserve squads under the SoccerPlus Connecticut club. Bart-Williams joined the Quinnipiac University men's soccer programme as an assistant coach, helping to lead them to a 2013 MAAC championship and the first round of the NCAA soccer tournament.[http://www.soccerplusct.com/soccerplusct/staff.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201102527/http://www.soccerplusct.com/soccerplusct/staff.html|date=1 December 2008}} He also served as an assistant coach for the Quinnipiac University men's soccer team for six years.[http://www.quinnipiacbobcats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=90682&SPID=10985&DB_OEM_ID=17500&ATCLID=1584376&Q_SEASON=2008]{{dead link|date=July 2013}}

Bart-Williams ran an international soccer training and college recruiting service, CBW Soccer Elite, placing talented student-athletes in American college soccer programmes. Bart-Williams was also a consultant to Charlotte Soccer Academy's U.S. Soccer Development Academy programme and was the head of Gulliver Schools' boys' soccer programme in Miami, Florida.{{cn|date=July 2023}}

In February 2022, Dade County F.C. announced he had been appointed as head coach to oversee all their football programmes.{{cite news |title=Chris Bart-Williams: former Nottingham Forest midfielder dies aged 49 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jul/25/chris-bart-williams-dies-aged-49-nottingham-forest-sheffield-wednesday-midfielder |access-date=25 July 2023 |work=The Guardian |agency=PA News Agency |date=25 July 2023}}

Death

Bart-Williams died on 24 July 2023, at the age of 49. He had been working and living in the United States. His death came on the same day as his former Sheffield Wednesday manager Trevor Francis.{{cite news |title=Former Premier League star Chris Bart-Williams dies aged 49 as tributes pour in |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/premier-league-star-chris-bart-williams-dies-aged-49-sheffield-wednesday/ |access-date=24 July 2023 |work=LBC |date=24 July 2023}}{{cite news |title=Chris Bart-Williams: Former Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder dies aged 49 |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12926943/chris-bart-williams-former-nottingham-forest-and-sheffield-wednesday-midfielder-dies-aged-49 |access-date=25 July 2023 |work=Sky Sports |date=25 July 2023 |language=en}}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|FA Cup !colspan="2"\|League Cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{ENFA}}
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="3"\|Leyton Orient \|1990–91 \|Third Division \|21	2	0	0	0	0	1{{efn\|name=EFL\|Appearance in Football League Trophy}}	0	22	2
1991–92 \|Third Division \|15	0	0	0	4	0	1{{efn\|name=EFL}}	0	20	0
colspan="2"\|Total !36	2	0	0	4	0	2	0	42	2
rowspan="5"\|Sheffield Wednesday \|1991–92 \|First Division \|15	0	1	1	0	0	1{{efn\|name=FMC\|Appearance in Full Members' Cup}}	0	17	1
1992–93 \|Premier League \|34	6	4	0	7	1	3{{efn\|name=UC\|Appearances in UEFA Cup}}	2	48	9
1993–94 \|Premier League \|37	8	4	1	5	1	colspan="2"\|—	46	10
1994–95 \|Premier League \|38	2	3	0	4	2	colspan="2"\|—	45	4
colspan="2"\|Total !124	16	12	2	16	4	4	2	156	24
rowspan="8"\|Nottingham Forest \|1995–96 \|Premier League \|33	0	7	0	2	0	8{{efn\|name=UC}}	0	50	0
1996–97 \|Premier League \|16	1	2	0	3	0	colspan="2"\|—	21	1
1997–98 \|First Division \|33	4	0	0	3	0	colspan="2"\|—	36	4
1998–99 \|Premier League \|24	3	1	0	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	27	3
1999–2000 \|First Division \|38	5	3	2	2	1	colspan="2"\|—	43	8
2000–01 \|First Division \|46	14	1	0	2	1	colspan="2"\|—	49	15
2001–02 \|First Division \|17	3	0	0	2	1	colspan="2"\|—	19	4
colspan="2"\|Total !207	30	14	2	16	3	8	0	245	35
rowspan="3"\|Charlton Athletic \|2001–02 \|Premier League \|16	1	2	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	18	1
2002–03 \|Premier League \|13	1	2	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	15	1
colspan="2"\|Total !29	2	4	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	33	2
Ipswich Town \|2003–04 \|First Division \|26	2	1	0	0	0	1{{efn\|name=PO\|Appearance in First Division play-offs}}	0	28	2
colspan="3"\|Career total !422	52	31	4	36	7	15	2	504	65

Honours

;Sheffield Wednesday

FA Cup runner-up: 1992–93

;Nottingham Forest

Football League First Division: 1997–98{{cn|date=July 2023}}

;England U19

FIFA World Youth Championship third place: 1993{{cn|date=July 2023}}

;Individual

Nottingham Forest Player of the Year: 2000–01{{cite web|title=Players of the Season 2000's|url=http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/club/history/Playeroftheseason2000s.aspx|publisher=Nottingham Forest F.C.|accessdate=7 September 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111155137/http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/club/history/Playeroftheseason2000s.aspx|archivedate=11 November 2013}}
PFA Fans' Player of the Year: 2000–01 First Division{{cite web |title=PFA's Official Fan's Player of the Year Previous Winners |url=http://www.givemefootball.com/rolls_of_honour/fansplayerofyearroll.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215141352/http://www.givemefootball.com/rolls_of_honour/fansplayerofyearroll.html |archive-date=15 December 2007 |access-date=6 July 2020 |website=GiveMeFootball.com |publisher=Professional Footballers' Association}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927223507/http://www.marsaxlokkfc.com/players/players_profiles/Defenders/ChrisBartWilliams/profile.php Chris Bart-Williams at Marsaxlokkfc.com]
{{Soccerbase|name=Chris Bart-Williams'}}
[http://www.cbwsoccerelite.com CBW Soccer Elite]

Category:1974 births

Category:2023 deaths

Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Haringey

Category:People from Hornsey

Category:English men's footballers

Category:England men's youth international footballers

Category:England men's under-21 international footballers

Category:England men's B international footballers

Category:Men's association football defenders

Category:Men's association football midfielders

Category:Men's association football utility players

Category:Leyton Orient F.C. players