In Memoriam: Alan Harris

With great sadness, we have learnt of the death of Alan Harris, who played for our predecessors, both Wellington Town and Telford United, with huge distinction in the late 1960s and 1970s.

Alan, who died on Saturday, 28th March, was placed into the club’s Hall of Fame in 2010, in recognition of his fourteen years of service to the club.

He joined Wellington Town from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1967 and amassed in excess of 700 games for the club in the years that followed.

Alan was a member of the Telford United side that appeared in the first-ever FA Trophy final in 1970, when Telford were defeated 2-0 by Macclesfield Town.

He returned to Wembley in the same competition in 1971 and collected a winner’s medal with his colleagues when they defeated Hillingdon Borough 3-2.

The Trophy final victory was probably the most notable achievement of his time at the Buck’s Head, but it was far from the only success he enjoyed as a player for us.

Alan was awarded a benefit match in 1978, and a line-up of stars came out to play, with World Cup winners Bobby and Jack Charlton, Birmingham City forward Trevor Francis and Wolves legend John Richards performing in front of a crowd of over 2,700 in recognition of a decade of service to the club by Alan.

Alan’s contribution to the community in Shropshire went much further than playing football. From a position in the advertising department at the Shropshire Star, which he combined with playing, he worked his way up; eventually, with his playing days behind him, Alan achieved success in his ‘other’ endeavour and became the newspaper’s managing director.

We aim to honour Alan’s life and contribution to our football club ahead of our Easter Monday fixture with Kidderminster Harriers and in our match programme for the game.

We send our deepest condolences to Alan’s widow, Jo, with whom he enjoyed more than fifty years of marriage. We extend those, and our warmest good wishes, to his sons, Nick and David, and to the wider Harris family, as well as all those who regarded Alan as a friend or simply someone whose company they enjoyed.

Thank you, Alan - your name will live on in the hearts and memories of the club’s supporters for whom you gave your all.