'One of the nicest men you could wish to meet'

Everyone at Crewe Alexandra was deeply saddened by the passing of our club photographer Pete Warburton at the weekend. Peter was taken ill shortly after the final whistle at Vale Park.

Despite the tremendous efforts from the paramedics on the scene and the staff at University Hospital North Staffordshire, Pete sadly passed away a few hours later.

Crewe Alexandra would like to thank everyone who did their best to give Pete a chance and to our friends at Port Vale Football Club for all their assistance and kind words.

Pete was a real unsung hero of our Football Club and loved taking photographs of his beloved Crewe Alexandra. He was a talented photographer, who would travel the length of the country to watch the Railwaymen and provide a collection of photographs for the supporters and players to enjoy.

One of our abiding memories of Pete was of him taking photographs of the Crewe supporters on Wembley Way as they made their way into the Stadium for the Play-Offs and Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Final. We never asked him to do that.

He was one of the nicest men you who could wish to meet and he would be forever say ‘not a problem’ when we asked him to do something for the club.

Pete was celebrating his tenth season with us and has provided a collection of images that will forever chronicle the history of Crewe Alexandra.

Club Chairman John Bowler said: “Pete was another servant of the football club who was appreciated by everyone. He produced a large collection of photographs over many years and I’m sure they have been enjoyed by many of our supporters.

“He was a really genuine, pleasant man, who will be sorely missed by all the staff here.”

Our deepest condolences are with his mother, his wife Pauline and all the friends he was made in the local community and through his connection with the football club.