Watford have paid tribute to a man who “thrived around football folk of all ages” following the death of Bill Shipwright at the age of 89.

The former defender, who was born in 1932 and brought up in east London, made 159 appearances over six seasons during his professional playing career at Vicarage Road following his debut as a 21-year-old in 1954.

However, Shipwright's involvement with the club dated back to 1948 when he first joined Watford as a teenage grounds apprentice alongside legendary cricketer Fred Titmuss.

A captain of the RAF Egypt team during his National Service, the club recalled how Shipwright would often play on consecutive days for Watford’s midweek league side and Chesham United before he turned professional.

Watford Observer:

He left Watford in 1959 for Aldershot Town and played another four seasons of league football before moving into non-league as both a player and manager.

Shipwright's success in football would later include organising international competitions and trials, one of which ultimately led to former Hornets midfielder Richard Johnson’s move into English football.

The club’s tribute reads: “Bill’s legendary tale-telling has been a much-enjoyed feature of his visits to Vicarage Road on matchdays in recent years as a special guest of the club; the last of which came in December 2019.

Watford Observer:

“As soon as the VR100 project to celebrate the club’s centenary at Vicarage Road was initiated last year, Bill was only too happy to recount stories from his time as an employee both on and off the pitch here at the stadium; sweeping out under the stands post-match, sleeping under a boxing ring he’d helped to build on the pitch in September 1950 or nights out in London with his great friend Cliff Holton were just three such examples of his many and varied experiences while on Watford FC’s books.”

The Hornets have stated they will pay tribute to Shipwright at their next match at Vicarage Road, against Leeds United on April 9.