The Board are extremely saddened to hear of the passing of former player and manager, Steve Waywell, and, on behalf of everyone at Hyde United, we send our sincere condolences to Steve’s family and friends.

Following a few seasons as a very good and reliable centre-half at Stalybridge Celtic, Steve joined the Tigers under Peter Wragg in the 84/85 season and made 46 appearances in a side that finished 4th in the League and included the likes of Phil Marsden and John Timmons.

Steve is probably best remembered at Hyde for his successful time as Manager in the mid-2000s. He’d already gained a considerable reputation with previous spells at Curzon Ashton and Horwich (later to become Leigh) RMI and the Hyde Board at the time pulled off something of a coup in persuading Steve to step down a league or two and join the Tigers.

Although unable to steer the team clear of relegation in the 2002/03 season, Steve and his assistant, Tony Ellis, set about restoring the side into an entertaining and winning outfit. With quality signings such as Neil Tolson, John O’Kane and Matty McNeil, the NPL Division One title was secured on the final day of the 03/04 season with a memorable 4-0 win against North Ferriby. We also won the Chairman’s Cup that year with a two-legged Final win over Leek Town.

That momentum carried on through the 2004/05 season as the team proved a difficult nut to crack with only 4 defeats in the league and 80 goals scored; they ultimately held off challenges from Whitby Town, Farsley Celtic and Workington, with the defining match at Home against the Cumbrians in the middle of April when a crowd of over 1300 witnessed a Tigers win thanks to a Marc Green sliced own goal in the 90th minute. The Manchester Premier Cup was also won that season with a barnstorming 5-4 win against Maine Road FC at Boundary Park.

The MPC was retained in the 05/06 season with a 2-1 win against Droylsden and we finished a creditable 11th in the recently-formed Conference North division. After 8th and 9th places respectively in the next two seasons, Steve finished his spell at Hyde with a proud record and will rightly be remembered as one of the most successful managers in our history.

There will be a minute’s applause in celebration of Steve at our Home match v Cleethorpes Town on Saturday, 20th December, so please come along and help the Club pay our tribute.