PFA Assistant Director of Education and former Hatters midfielder Oshor Williams pays tribute to his former Stockport County manager Eric Webster, who sadly died aged 84 on the 24th January 2016:
I first met Eric when I joined Stockport County FC on loan from Southampton. Eric was part of the then Manager Mike Summerbee's coaching staff and Mike had taken me to the training ground at Timperley to meet everyone. On the five a side pitch near to the club house I saw a portly man in his late forties playing for one of the teams. It was a conditioned game of two touch football very fast and very technical and this guy looked the best player on the pitch.
That was Eric, passionate about football and passionate about people. We quickly got to know and like each other and as I was placed in digs on my own at the time he would often take me to a match somewhere midweek to kill the boredom (and I suspect to keep me out of mischief!) We would go to reserve games and semi pro games all over the North West and Eric's knowledge of local and regional players was extensive. We would quite often be accompanied by his old Manchester City team mate and colleague Ken Barnes and they would recount great stories of past players and events making every trip an education.
Knowing that football even in those days was an ever revolving door with managers and coaches coming and going every year or so, Eric decided to take over as Head groundsman because it had in his words "more job security". Whether that was the case or not he maintained one of the best pitches in the league but was still heavily involved on the coaching and training side taking the non-contract players training two evenings a week.
He was also the person many players confided in at the time if they were out of the side or side-lined with injury. We didn't have a Sports Psychologist just Eric sharing a cup of tea between his duties and saying, "It's no use feeling sorry for yourself, just get on with it and fight for a place in the side!" Usually he would intersperse this sound advice with a funny story or a joke and somehow you always felt reassured afterwards.
Of course everyone knows that when the club was left manager less due to the illness of Jimmy McGuigan, Eric was asked to step into the breach which he did with great impact. Not only did he almost engineer the greatest shock in football history when we drew with European Champions Liverpool over two legs in the League Cup only to be knocked out in extra time, but he was also responsible for the development of players like Dean Emerson and Micky Quinn as well as goalkeeper Micky Salmon, all who went on to play at a higher level with great distinction.
Although I made the tough decision to leave the club whilst Eric was still the manager I did so with his blessing and we remained close with me often ringing him or calling in to see him for advice or just for a good laugh. Football has lost a great character and I have lost a good friend but I can honestly say that working under and alongside Eric made every day a pleasure to walk into Edgeley Park.
All at the PFA would like to offer their sincere condolences to Eric’s family and friends.
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