All at Hednesford Town Football Club are saddened to hear of the passing of former centre-half Steve Essex at the age of just 58.

Steve, or as he was better known among the Pitman faithful ‘Esso’, arrived at the Cross Keys in the early 1990s and would be influential in the club’s rise into the Football Conference – scoring one of the goals in the 3-0 title clinching victory against Leek Town in April 1995.

Perhaps some of his finest moments came during our FA Cup run to the Fourth Round in the 1996/97 season. After a man of the match display against Blackpool in the Second Round he would famously go on to mark Italian international Fabrizio Ravenelli out of the game against Premier League Middlesbrough.

Our thoughts are with Steve’s family and friends at this sad time.