Chelsea mourn death of beloved youth team kitman

Sad news is coming out of Cobham this morning that club kitman Eric Asiedu has died suddenly.

A statement on the club website mourns Eric’s passing, and pays tribute to his “infectious smile” and “wonderful positivity”, as well as his meticulous work behind the scenes.

Asiedu joined Chelsea in 2013, and quickly became a well known figure thanks to his work with the youth teams. There his work was about more than just cleaning boots and socks – he was a “confidant” and mentor to the young players at a delicate and stressful time of their career.

We’ve already seen Instagram tributes from first team stars like Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah, who have known Eric since they were kids in the academy. There was also a statement from head of youth development Neil Bath, who hired Asiedu and work with him closely. Bath said:

“We are completely shocked and totally devastated to hear of Eric’s passing.

“When you get the good fortune to lead an organisation like an academy, you quickly realise that while players, coaches and staff get the public praise, there are key individuals behind the scenes who truly are the absolute key to developing and maintaining a successful culture.”

Rest in peace, Eric Asiedu.