Norwich in mourning as club president dies
Norwich City club president Geoffrey Watling has died at the age of 91.
Watling, who passed away peacefully in his sleep last night, was involved with the Norfolk club for nearly half a century, becoming chairman in 1957, a position he held for 16 years.
The lifelong Canaries fan helped steer them from near bankruptcy and on to the famous FA Cup semi-final run of 1959 as well as a League Cup triumph in 1962, with the team winning promotion to the old Division One for the first time 10 years later.
Watling was also an integral figure in buying out former chairman Robert Chase in 1996, when the club was facing severe financial hardship following relegation from the Premier League, before selling his majority shareholding to current owners Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones.
Norwich chairman Roger Munby told the official website, www.canaries.co.uk: “Everyone at the club is deeply saddened at this news.
“Were it not for Geoffrey, this club may well not be in existence now.
“He was a great man and will be fondly remembered by everyone who had the good fortune to know him. He is a sad loss to Norwich City.”
A minute’s silence will be held prior to kick-off at Norwich’s Barclays Premiership match against Southampton at Carrow Road on Saturday.
Players will wear black armbands, and the flags above the Geoffrey Watling City Stand will be flown at half-mast.
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