Nocturnal 
Former Manchester City youth player Courtney Meppen-Walter has died at the age of 32, as confirmed by his old club Bury FC.
The defender, who came through City’s academy and captained England at Under-18 level, had most recently been on the books at Bury. No details have been released regarding the circumstances of his death.
Bury announced the news in a statement on social media on Tuesday morning. “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former player Courtney Meppen-Walter, at the age of 32,” the club said. “The thoughts and condolences of everyone at #buryfc are with his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”
A career across non-league football
Meppen-Walter left Manchester City’s youth system and signed for Carlisle United in 2013, going on to make 42 appearances for the Cumbrian club under manager Graham Kavanagh.
He then spent time at a string of non-league sides, including Ashton United, Stockport County, Glossop North End, Chorley, AFC Telford United, Radcliffe, Guiseley, Nantwich Town, Bury and Stalybridge Celtic. He won Guiseley’s Manager’s Player of the Season award in 2022/23 after joining the club permanently following a loan spell.
Tributes have poured in from across the game. Carlisle United said: “Everyone at Carlisle United are deeply saddened by the passing of former player Courtney Meppen-Walter. All our thoughts are with Courtney’s family and friends at this difficult time.”
Guiseley AFC added: “We are shocked to hear of the passing of Courtney Meppen-Walter… Our thoughts are with Courtney’s family and friends at this sad time.” Nantwich Town chairman Jon Gold said Meppen-Walter was “a larger than life character with the biggest heart” who “quickly became loved” by supporters and team-mates, adding that “whilst there were sadly some dark times in his life, something that he never shied away from, the Courtney we knew was full of positivity and inspiration”.
Prison sentence and driving ban
In 2013, Meppen-Walter was jailed for 16 months after a speeding crash the previous year caused the deaths of Kulwant Singh, 32, and his sister Ravel Kaur, 37, in Manchester. He served half of the sentence before his release, after which he joined Carlisle United. He was released by Manchester City following the conviction.
In 2019, while playing for Chorley, he was banned from driving for 22 months after being caught more than twice over the legal alcohol limit at the wheel in Manchester city centre. He avoided jail but was handed a 12-month community order, 80 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £170 in costs. At the time, he told the court: “I know what you are probably thinking and what everyone else is thinking. I will probably get called every name under the sun and I deserve it. I’m just embarrassed.”
Where things stand now
No cause of death has been made public, and Bury FC has not released further details. Tributes continue to be shared by clubs Meppen-Walter represented throughout his career, as first reported by Bury FC’s own statement and confirmed by outlets including the Mirror, the Sun and the Daily Mail.
