Millers rocked by death of stalwart

The Millers sent their condolences to the family of the administrator, pictured, on Monday after learning of his unexpected passing at the age of 60 over the weekend.

After being feted at a party to celebrate his 40 years of devotion to the club last season, the late secretary and committee member had recently spent a brief spell in hospital but was back at home recovering and said to be looking forward to being back at Stoke Lane in October after missing a handful of games while ill.

The sad news was given to shell-shocked club officials by his sister on Monday morning and later relayed to Town's players by manager Wayne Scott. A number of Mr Shelton's former colleagues contacted the club within hours of hearing the news to offer their condolences before Carlton Town chairman Mick Garton paid a warm and heartfelt tribute to the stalwart on behalf of the club in a statement.

The Millers chairman wrote: "I received a phone call off Paul's close friend and fellow committee man Chris Bailey to tell me this awful news and had to pull over for a time and take it all in. I must admit I was shaking, it is devastating news for first of all his family and in particular his sister Yvonne and all of us at Carlton Town.

"I have been chairman for 17 years and Paul has been by my side throughout that time as secretary at the club. He was brilliant at his job and cared deeply for the club, often putting his own money in to help pay towards the outgoings. He worked for the love of the club, never taking out, always putting in and was an invaluable member of our team. Not having him around is going to be so strange and equally difficult for so many of us.

"Our thoughts at the moment are obviously with his family but I would just like to thank everyone who as been in touch with me and others at the club including former managers Tommy Brookbanks and Les Mcjannet who both worked with Paul for many years and held him in such high regard.

"Trevor Wells and Chris Bailey have been covering for Paul during his recent absence and both have agreed to continue to do so for the immediate future, they are both also in bits over Paul's death. Mark Steggles told me he had known Paul for 38 years, president Roger Smith's friendship with him will be equally over a long and sustained period of time."

He added: "We spent Sunday paying tribute to an 18-year-old boy who played for Carlton Town and died recently, Brahima Ceesay. We did not expect that 24 hours later we would be paying tribute to Paul Shelton for the same reason. It has been a sad day indeed and the place will never quite be the same without him, we will miss him so much. Rest in peace Paul."

Images courtesy of carltontownfc.co.uk

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