Stuart Griffin - Cheltenhamlion

[Whiney MacWhineface]

Genuinely stunned. Too, too young.

[dicedlam]

Terribly sad news.

RIP Chelts.,

[frank]

Also the semi-final against Liverpool in the same cup run, where we nicked some bloke’s Liverpool flag (capture the flag!) who dared to venture into the Swiss Cottage after the match and walked into a wall of Villa fans off here, all hammered and loving the fact we had a pet Liverpool fan to play with.

Stu with that Liverpool flag

[dave shelley]

I mentioned earlier that my daughter met him and his family in Cos last summer and talking to her this afternoon to let her know, she's just come back this evening and said she's almost certain that Stu told her they were the same age which is 47 and that, to me, makes it more painful.

[Brend'Watkins]

A genuinely likeable man. We always chatted in the Bartons after a game over pints. He often told me proudly  of his son’s progress playing the game, he too played at a very decent level, he really knew his stuff. What was he, early 40s? Just devastating that he’s passed on, devastating for his family and ourselves. I will really miss him.

[AV82EC]

Never met him but always loved his contributions on here. RIP and thoughts and prayers with his family. Too young.

[pablo_picasso]

I think after posting on the same site for many years, you get a sense what someone is like in real life, and Chelts was no exception. He was funny, intelligent, opinionated and a bit mad on here, and that's just what he was like when you met him. A very kind soul indeed. I wonder if there's anyway of contacting the club and seeing if we could get his photo on the big screens? Scant consolation for his family obviously, but he was Villa through and through and his picture at a place he obviously loved might mean something in years to come. Just a thought.

The club can be quite accommodating with things like this.

When my grandad passed they sent out a large flag to cover his coffin.

It was beautiful.

[joe_c]

Very sad news. Stuart was good enough to call me to see how I was getting on after my dad died in 2022 and again last year after I was robbed. As has already been mentioned (apologies for forgetting who, it's likely to be multiple people) during lockdown, he adopted a policy of ringing one or two people a week for a chat and make sure they were doing OK in those strange times. The Swiss Cottage convention, pre and post match, easily the most enjoyable aspect of the Cup Final appearance.

[Drummond]

Larger than life, a top bloke when I met him.

I've never been good at building relationships on here, but Stu was someone that was easy to get on with.

Am I right in thinking he was Hercules or Bella or something for a bit?

[rob_bridge]

Sad news - always liked his H&V articles.

Condolences to the family.

[Jon Crofts]

Singing songs with him  and drinking way too much ale after the Derby play off final will stick with me for a good while.

[dave shelley]

Singing songs with him  and drinking way too much ale after the Derby play off final will stick with me for a good while.

There's no better way Jon.

[Chinchilla Bathhouse]

This is devastating news. I never had the pleasure of meeting Chelts but I feel like I knew him through his words. In his articles and his contributions to the forum he was authentic, wise and witty, always insightful, often riveting, never dull. It's a measure of the quality of his writing that many of us feel bereft at the loss of a man we never met.

Thoughts with his family, and with all of you who knew and loved him. Take care.

[DB]

Singing songs with him  and drinking way too much ale after the Derby play off final will stick with me for a good while.

What a day that was in the Swiss Cottage.

[Richard E]

Singing songs with him  and drinking way too much ale after the Derby play off final will stick with me for a good while.

What a day that was in the Swiss Cottage.

We must all raise a glass for him when we are in there for the FA Cup semi and Final.