Tribute: Duncan Bayley

In a 30-year career with the NPL, Duncan was league secretary from 1979 – 2002, later taking the dual roles of chief executive and chairman for 12 months, spanning the gap between Ken Marsden  (1976-2002) and Peter Maude (2002-2009), remaining as CEO until his retirement in 2009. 

He was made a life member in 2001 and was also an FA councillor.

Prior to joining the NPL, Duncan (photo far left) was a linesman in the Football League and ran the line at Wembley in the League Cup final between Nottingham Forest and Southampton in 1979, joining the NPL the same year.

He played a key role in modernising the NPL, which acquired a second division in 2005. 

He also signed the NPL’s first sponsors, Unipart, who were followed by HFS Loans and then UniBond, in a partnership that lasted a record-breaking 17 years.

Paying tribute to Duncan, NPL chairman Mark Harris said “The League owes a great debt to Duncan Bayley. He laid the foundations that allowed it to happen.

"There's an old saying that you can't know where you're going unless you know where you've come from. 

"On behalf of the directors and officers of the NPL, we send heartfelt condolences to Duncan’s wife Sheila, his daughter Gillian and son Gerald on their loss. RIP Duncan.”