Former Hednesford Town player and fans’ favourite Les Youll has sadly died, aged 62. Les, who played for the Pitmen in the 1980s, was a tenacious, tough-tackling midfielder and was one of the last miners to work in the colliery by day and turn out for the Pitmen in the evening and weekends.
He passed away in Queen’s Hospital, Burton upon Trent, on his 62nd birthday on Saturday after contracting coronavirus.
Les also had a spell with Stafford Rangers and was also well-known across the Cannock Chase and West Midlands football league scene having played for a number of sides including Brereton Town, Brereton Social, Lichfield City and Cannock Chase football clubs. He worked for many years at Lea Hall Colliery in Rugeley.
Les leaves wife Christine, daughters Victoria and Emily, son Richard and grandchildren Hayden, Lorelai, David, Joseph and Oliver.
Les’s nephew, Russell Youll, said his uncle was a hugely popular player among fans and team-mates. “Les was a brilliant player and one of the toughest I’ve ever seen play,” he said. “But he was a fantastic husband, dad, grandad, brother and uncle. He is very sadly missed.”
Everyone connected with Hednesford Town past and present will mourn the loss of Les, a firm fan favourite, our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.
Funeral details will be announced by the family at a later date.
