The sudden death of former Wanderers president Steve Olsson has devastated the NTFL club

WANDERERS Football Club is in shock after the sudden death of long serving president and popular clubman Steve Olsson on Christmas Eve

Wanderers Football Club identity and Top End businessman Steve Olsson has died.

WANDERERS Football Club is in shock after the sudden death of former president and popular clubman Steve Olsson on Christmas Eve.

Olsson died late on Tuesday night from causes yet to be determined by the coroner. He was 60.

Close friend Darryl Window remembers him as an extremely generous person who almost singlehandedly saved Wanderers during the club’s financial struggles through the 1990s and early noughties.

The Wanderers faithful gathered at the club’s social headquarters, Marrara’s Airport Hotel, in big numbers last night to celebrate the life of the man they called “Slug’’.

“Steve was the most generous person I have ever known and the people at Wanderers will tell you he was the person who kept the club afloat,’’ Window said.

“I loved the bloke, our families went on holidays together, on cruises together, he was just a fantastic bloke and it’s a sad day for all who knew him.

“He was also great for Wanderers and Territory footy, we’ll never forget Slug.’’

An avid Carlton supporter, Olsson arrived in Darwin from Adelaide in January, 1986 through his work in insurance.

Another close friend and Top End football identity, the late Phil “Bomber’’ Lancaster and Olsson worked in partnership through Elders Insurance for many years.

Steve Olsson is survived by his wife Dianne, daughters Mallory, Gaynor and Linda and seven grandchildren.

Funeral details are still to be finalised, but Wanderers officials say it will take at least two weeks to set any firm date.