This weekend’s fixtures in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League were overshadowed by the sad passing of Shrewton United Chairman and League Vice Chairman, Stuart Withers who was knocked down and killed in an accident Friday morning in Salisbury.
Stuart had been a member of the Wiltshire Senior League Committee since 1999 and had taken on the position of Vice Chairman of the league in 2006. However, he is best known in the football community for his exploits with Shrewton United, firstly as a player and then a highly successful manager who took the club from junior football all the way to the Western League.
Whilst manager of Shrewton United, in what is now the Premier Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League, his side lifted the league title trophy on three occasions and were runners-up four times. They also won the league's Senior Cup on four occasions. The league title triumphs came in Seasons 1996-97, 2001-02 and then again, the following season, in 2002-03, when for the second season running Stuart's side secured a league and cup double. After that third title triumph Stuart took his Shrewton side up into the Western League where they more than held their own, securing a top half of the table finish in all but one of the eight seasons he was in charge of the side in the Western League.
After Stuart stepped down as manager, Shrewton were to remain in the Western League for two more seasons before returning to the Wiltshire Senior League where Stuart and his wife Maureen had remained as active league committee members. Stuart remained a key member within the Shrewton club taking on the position of Club Chairman. Stuart was a highly respected member of the football community in Wiltshire and all the Wiltshire Senior League were devastated by the news of his passing and all our thoughts are with Maureen and the family at this difficult and sad time.
Shrewton United and Trowbridge Town held a minute’s silence before Saturday’s game and both teams wore black arm bands. The league will be requesting that all clubs hold a minute’s silence before all games next week across the league as a mark of respect to Stuart.
23 November 2024