It is with much regret that Notts County report the death, following a serious illness, of a former Notts director, William Barrowcliffe, shortly before his 84th birthday.
Known to one and all as Bill or Billy, he joined the board of directors in the 1990s and on the death of his fellow director Maurice Youdell in late December, 1999, he succeeded him as having special responsibility for the club’s Centre of Excellence.
This continued his long association with the club’s aim of developing young talent. He and his late wife, Inez, ran the residential hostel for young players which the club opened in West Bridgford to further this policy.
In his youth Billy showed great promise at both football and cricket, leading to him receiving England schoolboy honours. At cricket he later played as a wicketkeeper-batsman for Nottingham Taxis under the captaincy of Derek Pavis and, following his retirement as a player, he became a regular spectator at Trent Bridge as a member of the executive suite.
In business he ran the successful wholesale fruit and vegetable firm under his name in Sneinton Market.
The club extends its deepest sympathy to Bill’s son, Tony, and wife, Wendy, who cared for him in his last weeks, and to other members of his family and friends.
The funeral will take place at 12.30pm on Thursday 15 March at Bramcote Crematorium.