Newark football player and keen sportsman dies aged 81

A lifelong Newarker and keen footballer has died aged 81.

Roy Edward Short played football for several teams from the 1950s to the 1970s, often playing two matches a weekend.

He was part of Newark Football Club, RHP Saturday side, Rutlanders and the Balderton Wanderers.

His brother-in-law Neil Travis said: "Everything about his life was sports oriented."

Roy was born at home on Beech Avenue, on January 24, 1941, and excelled at sports at school.

He was educated at Oliver Quibell Infants, Hawtonville Junior School and Sconce Hills School.

Roy started his working life with a apprenticeship at Worthington Simpsons, and when his time there was up, moved to Ransome and Marles where he spent the rest of his career.

He was said to have never taken a day off throughout his entire working life.

Outside of his work, Roy was heavily involved in sports.

His weekends were spent on the pitch, playing in the Saturday league for RHP, and a mix of teams on Sundays, and he won multiple medals each year, for player of the year, cup winner and league winner.

He trained for football on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, choosing to run double the intended course each time.

Roy was also an active member of the RHP club, playing bowls, indoor skittles, outdoor skittles and dominoes in the Newark and District leagues.

Roy did not marry, and he and his sister Ann lived together for their entire lives after she and her husband invited him to live with them after their marriage.