Football stalwart dies, aged 63

Former Telford United manager and Shrewsbury Town coach and physio Derek Mann has died at the age of 63. He died at the weekend after collapsing at home this month.Mr Mann, who lived in Shrewsbury and formerly managed Chester City in the Football League, was head football coach at Telford College of Arts and Technology and also a youth team coach at AFC Telford.

He was also heavily connected with Wolves where he was kit man and part of the scouting team at Molineux.

AFC Telford chairman Lee Carter said: "He was highly involved with the running of our youth team and managed the side on a number of occasions.

"He had a real passion and commitment for bringing some young talent through that would one day be able to play in the first team.

"We spoke to him a lot about the structure of football in Telford as well. He had a lot of ideas on that side and will be sorely missed."

Mr Mann was physio and coach at Shrewsbury Town during Chic Bates's time as manager between 1984 and 1987 and Mr Bates said he had been stunned by the news of Mr Mann's death.

Mr Bates said: "It's desperate news, particularly so for the family."

Mr Mann was manager of the county youth team in the early 1980s, and Shropshire FA press officer Neil Sambrook said: "Derek was a great servant of football in this county and we will miss him very much."

Colin Walker, head of sport and leisure at TCAT, said Mr Mann was a "passionate coach" who cared more about people than results.