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West Country mourns Nick Parsons

Everyone at Women’s Soccer Scene was saddened to hear the news that former Frome Town manager and Keynsham Town coach Nick Parsons passed away just before Christmas at the age of 63.

A very popular figure in the women’s game in Somerset and around the Bristol area, Nick will be best known for his spell in charge of Frome Town which brought the club its most successful years.

Nick guided the club to its first trophy, winning the Bristol Soccerworld Cup in 2003 with a 2-1 victory over Cheltenham Saracens in the Final at Clevedon. Frome went on to win promotion to the Premier Division in the South West Women’s League and they quickly established themselves amongst the top sides in the division.

In 2007, Frome got as far as the Fourth Round of the FA Women’s Cup before losing to Stockport County and the following season, they repeated the feat and reached the same stage again, where they lost a thrilling tie 7-3 at their Badgers Hill home against Nottingham Forest.

That same season, Frome landed the Premier Division title for the first and only time and were promoted to the South West Combination.

Nick also managed the South West Women’s League representative team but stepped down as manager of Frome shortly afterwards and moved on to a coaching role at Keynsham Town, spending a short spell as caretaker manager in 2015 when Barrie Newton was ill.

“Nick was a good friend, with a wicked sense of humour and a great coach,” Keynsham chairman Mark Ranachan told Women’s Soccer Scene. “He will be sadly missed by everyone at the club and in the women’s game.”

Women’s Soccer Scene editor Neil Brown added: “It was always good to see Nick whenever we were at matches involving Frome and latterly at Keynsham, and at other matches in the area.

“Nick was always very well liked by the players who played for him and their reaction to his passing only goes to show this. He was also very kind to my father in his later years and the two of them got on very well. We will miss him.”  

Photos courtesy of Sandy Whitton