It is with heavy hearts that the Swindon and District Football League mourns the loss of Chris Paris-Haines. Born on the 22nd of February 1986, Chris, along with his husband Mark Paris-Haines, became involved behind the scenes of our football community.

With his camera in hand, Chris would captured the essence of grassroots football, supporting clubs and the committee with shots of teams in action. Chris could often be found on the sidelines, advocating the crucial message of ‘Respect The Ref’ and promoting the inclusive spirit of football with his embrace of the rainbow coloursand the message that ‘Love is Love.’

To honour Chris’s memory, the league requests all clubs and referees to observe a minute’s silence before matches on Saturday, 27th January. This gesture pays tribute to a man whose quiet influence resonated deeply within our football family.

Chris’s funeral will take place on Wednesday, 31st January, at 3 pm at Kingsdown Crematorium. In celebration of his vibrant spirit, attendees are encouraged to wear rainbow/bright colors rather than traditional black attire.

The leagues thoughts are with Mark and we think of Chris as he rest’s in peace, and may his legacy of respect, love, and inclusivity continue to shine brightly within the SDFL.