League mourns Wembley stalwart's passing

The EVO-STIK League is mourning the loss of the Football Association’s Registrations Manager Steve Rooke who has passed away after a long illness.

FA Council members were informed of his death on Wednesday and the EVO-STIK League’s saddened officials have offered their condolences to his family, friends and colleagues at Wembley.

A well-known figure among EVO-STIK League clubs, Mr Rooke, pictured, was 57 and had been battling pancreatic cancer. He lived in Southwick, West Sussex and is survived by his second wife Kathryn, daughter Rachel, son Daniel from his first marriage and grandson Max.

Prior to his appointment as The FA Registrations and Sanctions Manager in September 2007, the experienced football administrator worked at Brighton & Hove Albion after leaving his post as Worthing FC's Secretary.

He moved on to become Wimbledon’s Secretary at the start of the Premier League era in 1992 and switched briefly to take the same role at MK Dons before his appointment as the Chief Executive Officer of the Manchester FA.