Chatham Town Women’s boss Keith Boanas takes a backseat role for Fulham clash after the death of former Charlton assistant and Liverpool manager Matt Beard

Chatham Town Women came close to ending Fulham’s perfect start to the season on an emotional afternoon for boss Keith Boanas.

Boanas’ friend and assistant boss during their time together at Charlton, Matt Beard, has died aged 47. His death was confirmed on Saturday night.

Beard was taken under Boanas’ wing at Tooting & Mitcham and then Charlton Athletic Ladies before establishing himself at the top of the game in his own right, with two spells as manager of Liverpool Women, head coach at American side Boston Breakers, boss at West Ham United Women and a short spell at Burnley.

He’d been best man at Boanas’ wedding in Mexico and the Chatham boss is godfather to his children.

It was devastating news to Boanas, whose Chatham team were due to face a Fulham side with a 100 per cent record at the start of the Women’s National League Division 1 South East season. He saluted his side’s efforts in Sunday’s match, losing 2-1 but fighting all the way with only 10 players in the final 30 minutes.

Boanas considered staying away from Sunday’s game but chose to watch from the boardroom, close enough to communicate any messages that were needed and able to watch as his side came so close to ending Fulham’s winning start.

“It was a real tough one,” he said. “He was my right arm at Charlton and then went on to do his own thing. He’s like a mini-me.

“I wasn’t going to go to the game at one point after I heard the news on Saturday but I couldn’t stay indoors so I went down to watch Kev’s [men’s] game on Saturday against my old club Carshalton.

“I was tossing and turning about whether to go or not on Sunday, and I arranged with my staff, who were brilliant, to take the game.

“I deliberately didn’t go in the dressing room and I stayed out of