According to reports, Everton’s players were sent home from training on Tuesday after learning that chairman Bill Kenwright had passed away at the age of 78. Sean Dyche, the manager of the Toffees, took the call after learning that the legendary theaterman had passed away quietly the night before, surrounded by his loved ones.
The life of Bill Kenwright, from actor on Coronation Street to Everton supremo
Bill Kenwright, the Everton chairman and star of Corrie, passes away.
Everton was reportedly in training when Dyche received the news of Kenwright’s demise, according to the Liverpool Echo. Dyche immediately called off the session at Finch Farm and sent his players home for the day.
“Everton Football Club is in mourning following the death of Chairman Bill Kenwright CBE, who passed away peacefully last night at the age of 78, surrounded by his family and loved ones,” the club said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.
“Bill Kenwright, who chaired Everton for over a century, guided the team throughout a time of remarkable transformation in English football. Evertonian by birth, he joined the board on October 23, 1989, and his True Blue Holdings consortium bought the team on Boxing Day, 1999.
Just before Everton’s victory, Dominik Szoboszlai’s conversation surprised Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp [LATEST]
Bill Kenwright, the chairman of Everton, passed away on Monday night. (Photo courtesy of Getty)
“He took over as chair in 2004 after serving as vice-chairman under his close friend Sir Philip Carter. The team achieved 12 top-eight finishes during his 19 seasons as chairman, including a top-four result in 2005, a trip to the 2009 FA Cup final, and six successive European qualification runs.
“The club has lost a friend, mentor, inspiration, and chairman. Everyone at Everton is thinking and praying for his girlfriend Jenny Seagrove, his daughter Lucy Kenwright, his grandchildren, and all those who were in his life.”
