AFC Totton
EVERYBODY AT AFC TOTTON was saddened to learn of the passing of our former Club Chairman Wayne Mew.
Wayne took on the role in 2016 and, during five years as the senior custodian of the club, guided The Stags through a turbulent period of financial mismanagement that saw the organisation emerge as a fitter, stronger, more competitive force both in terms of non-league football and within the local community.
Paul Maiden, AFC Totton’s Honorary Life President, paid tribute:
“Wayne came in during a crucial time for the club and provided the stability and leadership that was necessary to steady the ship. He was highly-respected within the game, and the club benefitted greatly from his wealth of experience and a wide range of contacts that enabled us to start solving problems and get back on a positive footing.
He was a lovely guy who gave and earned respect in equal measure. We owe him a massive debt of gratitude; without the hard work and commitment of Wayne – and the dedicated team of staff and volunteers operating under his leadership – the historic successes recently enjoyed by the football club would not have been possible.”
PARTNERS-IN-CRIME: Dave Penny (left) with former AFC Totton Chairman Wayne Mew.
Vice-Chairman Dave Penny was a close friend of Wayne for more than 30 years and, like Paul Maiden, was a member of the Club Committee operating under his leadership:
“Wayne and I worked together for a long time prior to coming to AFC Totton. He was active in the Southampton Tyro League, managing his sons’ teams, and then he became the youth team manager at Bashley, with me as his physio, when Jimmy Case was their first team boss.
We were together at Winchester City, Eastleigh and Romsey Town, as well as with the Hampshire County Select squad in the 1990s, and we took a number of teams to Sweden to take part in the prestigious Gothia Cup youth tournament.
When we came to AFC Totton in 2016, the club was down-and-out and in need of rescuing, and Wayne did as much as anyone to sort things out and get us moving in the right direction. He also oversaw the process that led to the Snows Stadium becoming a key vaccination centre during the COVID-19 pandemic, which helped to put the club on the map for many throughout the local community.
The word legend gets thrown around easily these days, but Wayne Mew really was a legend of local football. And to me personally, he was my partner-in-crime – a great friend and an irreplaceable member of the family. He will be sadly, sadly missed.”
The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Wayne’s family and friends. We will notify fans of the funeral arrangements closer to the time, and as permitted by the family.
By Ben Rochey-Adams
