Everybody connected to New Mills Football Club was extremely saddened to learn of the passing of former player Dean Morgan on Saturday after he lost his courageous battle against illness.

“Deano” was a popular, larger than life character who progressed through The New Mills Juniors ranks before graduating into the Club’s senior sides in The Manchester League days around the turn of the millennium. His most successful period as a player was when he featured at centre forward and arguably Dean’s best season in an amber and black shirt was in 2001/02 when he finished as leading scorer with twenty goals which included three hat tricks. Two of these strikes were in the Derbyshire Divisional Cup victory against Whaley Bridge where he picked up a winners medal at Buxton in front of a four figure attendance.

Dean was thirty nine years old and it is safe to say that the town will be a lesser place without him.

A minute’s applause was held in Dean's memory prior to Saturday’s home game against Ramsbottom United and the Club will pay further tribute to his Church Lane playing career in a twelve page supplement to be issued at the first team fixture against Padiham on 29th March.