Preece death stuns Saddlers

"Mini", as he was known to Saddlers fans, died in hospital yesterday five days after being admitted with a throat complaint.

His former Fellows Park team mates were today coming to terms with the news.

The club's record goalscorer Buckley, who signed Preece when he was player-manager, said: "There have not been many better footballers than 'Mini' to play for Walsall.

"When I left Birmingham and returned to Walsall as player-manager, the first two players I signed were Craig Shakespeare and Mini.

"I signed him at 16 and gave him his debut at 17, and the way I will always remember him is playing in a very young midfield of Mark Rees, 'Shakey', Gary Childs and 'Mini' against Liverpool at Anfield.

"Mini just looked at home in that environment. He was a terrific little footballer and it was all about natural ability with him.

"He had a fantastic left foot and he earned himself a good move to Luton, where he went on to make a great career for himself.

"We had some great times, especially in that Milk Cup run, and Mini was the hub of the team."

The Milk Cup run, which took Walsall to within a whisker of a Wembley final, was one of the club's finest hours, and it allowed Preece to cement his place in the affections of the Saddlers fans.

It also helped secure his £150,000 move to First Division Luton, managed by David Pleat.

Former Saddlers goalkeeper Mick Kearns has fond memories of Preece's role in the march to the semis.

Preece, who was one of a string of players spotted for Walsall by famed former chief scout Ron Jukes, said: "The game that always sticks in my mind from that run was when we beat Arsenal at Highbury. We were the better team against a First Division side in that game, and the best player in that game was probably David Preece.

"I was coming to the end of my playing days when David started to establish himself but, in all my time with Walsall, there were none better than David in terms of natural ability. He was also a bubbly lad with a cheeky smile, and if there were any practical jokes, as there often are at football clubs, David was normally either behind them or involved in some way."

After his heroics against Arsenal for Walsall, Preece would have an even finer hour against the Gunners when he helped Luton beat them at Wembley to win the 1988 League Cup. He made more than 300 appearances for The Hatters, many in the First Division, and won three England B caps.

His success came as no surprise to Saddlers team mate Richard O'Kelly. He said: "He was a fantastic player and a bubbly character, and I suppose I will always remember him as a cheeky little lad.

"Technically he was the best player I ever played with. The weight of his passing was perfect, and everything he did with the ball had quality."

Craig Shakespeare, who cut his teeth in the Saddlers team alongside Preece, said: "It's a complete shock. I was shaken and devastated – 44 is no age. I knew he had been ill but that was a couple of years ago, and we all thought that was behind him. It's hit me really hard but I have found memories of him because I grew up with him from the age of 16 and knew him well.

"He was a brilliantly gifted footballer who didn't need much coaching.

"He was from Bridgnorth so he was a bit of a country boy, and we used to take the mickey out of him for it, but when we got him out for a few nights out in Birmingham he soon livened up. We had a tremendous team spirit at Walsall back then, and Mini was a massive part of that."

He also played for Derby, Birmingham, Swindon, Cambridge and Torquay and after retiring from playing he worked alongside Luton team mates Wayne Turner and John Dreyer as a coach at Stevenage. He also coached at Rushden and Diamonds and was working last season at Kettering Town.

Saddlers fan Stan Blandford has fond memories of a young Preece making his name at Fellows Park. He said: "He came through at a time when we also had Craig Shakespeare making a name for himself, and the pair of them were great to watch.

"David had a wonderful left foot, and he was a very cultured footballer."

Walsall South MP Bruce George, a long-standing Saddlers supporter, spoke of his sadness at the death of one of his favourite players. "It is so sad and a tragedy to die at such a young age. He was a good player for Walsall, and it is always upsetting when someone who represented your team passes away. He was one of my favourite players as he always played hard but fair," he said.