Yeltz in tribute as club legend dies, 83

By Neil Harvey

BELOVED: Colin Brookes

HALESOWEN Town are mourning the loss of their much-loved club president Colin Brookes, who died after falling ill at a match.

Mr Brookes, 83, felt sick during half-time of the Yeltz’s Southern League Premier Central derby game at Stratford Town on Tuesday night.

Medics from both clubs and the mothers of Halesowen players Kyle Finn and Jim Kellerman did their best to treat him before local paramedics arrived, while the match was abandoned.

But despite all their efforts, he failed to recover.

A talented outside left, Colin earned a call-up to the England Schoolboys team at the age of just 14 and scored in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley, alongside future World Cup winner Nobby Stiles.

He signed his first full-time professional contract at Barnsley at the age of 17 and racked up 55 appearances for the Tykes before joining West Bromwich Albion and then moving to Non-League, where he moved into management and leadership roles.

Colin first joined Halesowen as assistant to Stuart Hall in 1994 and this marked the beginning of a long and devoted association with the club.

After stepping back from management in 2009, he became chairman – a role he held until 2016 – before purchasing the club from the Lynch family in 2018, helping it through a period of turbulent financial pressure.

Colin later transferred his ownership to his daughter Karen, and then youth team boss Keith McKenna, whilst continuing as a dedicated president and director.

A club statement read: “Everyone who knew him would know that if he had chosen a way to go, it would have been watching his beloved Yeltz and a quick passing.

“His legacy lives on in the club, the supporters and the community he served so faithfully.”