A VICTORY to clinch the league will mean even more to the players of Chippenham Town FC, who will also be trying to get a win in memory of club scout Sean Hughes who died last weekend.

An integral part of the club for more than four decades, Mr Hughes was a player in the 1970s before he took on the role of club scout more than 20 years ago.

He was there when the team went to Wembley in the FA Vase Final in 2000 season and he helped the team reach the top of the table during the course of this season.

Mr Hughes had a triple heart bypass last Thursday but complications led to internal bleeding, and the 61-year-old died on Sunday morning in Bristol’s Royal Infirmary.

Former chairman of Chippenham Town FC, Malcolm Lyus, said: “I knew him from school and he was a great bloke and a good family friend.

“He was very quiet but extremely loyal and he did the scouting for Chippenham which he was very dedicated at and took very seriously.

“He did a very good job looking at the opposition and he was a major part of Chippenham Town FC.

“I think everyone with the club will feel the loss and it would be lovely if they can win and get promotion in tribute to him.”

Born in Chippenham, Mr Hughes went to a private school in Brislington, Bristol, and eventually became a sales rep for McVitie’s and other companies as well as being a player for Chippenham Town.

He married his wife Sue in 1988. She died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on December 19, 2014.

His sister-in-law, Maria Bell, and her children will attend the game on Saturday where a minute’s silence will be held before the match in tribute to Mr Hughes.

Mrs Bell said: “It’s just a total shock, we just can’t believe it.

“He was absolutely fine about it, he knew he was having it and said he was going to be a new man when he got out of there.

“They said there was a bit of bleeding around the heart after the operation but the surgeon came out and said there was nothing to worry about.

“I went to see him and he said ‘do you think my time is up?’ and ‘what have I done so wrong?’.

“They opened him up again and had to resuscitate him and they didn’t know how much damage had been done, and we had the final call to come down and he passed away at 4am on Sunday.

“When they first got together me and my sister did used to go to the football matches.

“What the club is doing it’s a good comfort thing, many people think of him and it’s really nice.

“He’s always been at Chippenham Football Club and he would be really proud of what they’ve achieved.”

Current Chippenham Town FC chairman, Neil Blackmore, said: “He played and did a lot of scouting for previous managers, he was a good all-round supporter.

“Everyone who knew him liked him and he used to come to all the home games and we always stopped to have a chat; he was a mine of information.

“It’s absolutely right that we go out and try and win for him, he would have loved to have been there and join in the celebrations when we hopefully get promoted.”