Football Programmes Centre

martino

I have been copied in on the attached message which may be or interest to some members:

"The National Football Museum are working with Tony Brown (ENFA) to try and identify the oldest living Football League player. This may be an impossible task but we will try! The attached list shows most of the possible candidates so basically do you know of any ex FL player who played at least one first team game for your club and was born before Ivor Broadis (18.12.1922)?

I am sending out this email to all club historians on our database to check if the process works, so please let me know if you have received this email.

The NFM still offers its services to look up player details in our archives and the Preston site is open for personal research visits on Mondays & Tuesdays, by appointment. At the Manchester site, Urbis, the excellent 1966 World Cup exhibition is still open but hurry if you want to see it as it closes on 23rd April 2017.

Thank you
Peter Holme
Collections Officer
[email protected]"

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I have the attachment mentioned which is in Excel format which I will try and add to this post. If not and any member would like a copy can you PM with your E Mail address and I will send.

pafcprogs · Joined: 24 Dec 2008 Posts: 994 Location: Westerham Kent

have posted on the Argyle site....we may not have anyone older but I would be interested to know who the oldest might be

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Currently disposing of my collection so please email any wants lists to [email protected].
Most Plymouth post 1959 but plenty of others including reserves, friendlies, Cup Finals Internationals and Club issues, handbooks and other sports.

whitenoize · Joined: 23 Jan 2015 Posts: 203

Frank O'Farrell born 9 October 1927 is thought to be West Ham's oldest surviving player. Still sprightly I believe at 89

Ruud Van Driver · Joined: 16 Feb 2011 Posts: 1264

I posted this question on my Twitter page, someone has suggested George Haigh (Stockport County)

Wiki also believe he may be the oldest living Football League player

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Haigh
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capetown3673 · Joined: 28 Mar 2015 Posts: 124

Ted Burgin ex Sheffield United, Leeds and who was Rochdale goalkeeper in the1962 League Cup Final, is 90 on 29th April.

seand · Joined: 07 Jan 2009 Posts: 839 Location: Dublin

George Haigh (Stockport) appears to be 101
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Haigh

Goonerak · Joined: 01 Oct 2011 Posts: 186

Alan Smith (Arsenal & Brentford) born on 15 October 1921 is older than Broadis but a mere baby compared to Haigh.

Smith was featured in the Arsenal programme a couple of years ago after a similar request went out to find Arsenal's oldest living player.

paulobee · Joined: 10 Mar 2017 Posts: 161

Not sure if Reg Pugh is still alive, he'd bee 99 now.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reg_Pugh

George Stewart - 96
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Stewart_(footballer,_born_1920)

Tommy Sinclair - aged 95
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Sinclair

Are two former Bees who could be alive to this day.

pafcprogs · Joined: 24 Dec 2008 Posts: 994 Location: Westerham Kent

Well we couldn't find an older Pilgrim but we managed to locate someone who is apparently older than Broadis and likely top 7

This is a cut and paste of the end of the thred on Pasoti

Not an Argyle player, but Boscastle boy Dudley Kernick, born in 1921 and still going strong, played for Birmingham City, Exeter, Torquay and others during his career.
This is a good shout for Torquay and the whole picture as he definitely pre-dates Ivor Broadis. Dudley was born Camelford 29 August 1921. His only League appearances were for Torquay and although he was registered for Northampton and Birmingham he never actually played for either of them in a first team game.

I believe he lives in USA now and although not in the best of health, is still pretty sharp. Even has his own Facebook page. :thumbs:

If you can get hold of a copy on ebay, his autobiography "Who The Hell Was Dudley Kernick?" is a damn good football read.Thanks to the power of PASOTI (and the huge assistance from Kernow 19) the co-ordinators will be in touch with Dudley Kernick very soon. They tell me that whilst he is likely to be the oldest, he will be in the top 7. There is an Argyle link as Kernick played with Ellis Stuttard at Torquay.
_________________
Currently disposing of my collection so please email any wants lists to [email protected].
Most Plymouth post 1959 but plenty of others including reserves, friendlies, Cup Finals Internationals and Club issues, handbooks and other sports.

martino · Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2017 3:27 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all the posts.

I have made Peter Holme aware of this thread.

Keep 'em coming.

sir craven · Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Posts: 90

Roy Bentley 17-5-1924 is both Fulham and QPR's oldest surviving player.

Pete’s Picture Palace · Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2017 4:00 pm Post subject:

Crystal Palace

believed to be Charlie Chase b 31st Jan 1924

followed by Tony Collins b 19th March 1926

Spireitenag1955 · Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Posts: 133 Location: Chesterfield

Albert Collins born 15.04.1923 is Chesterfield's oldest surviving player at 93.

martino · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2017 10:35 am Post subject:

I have received the above update from Peter Holme:

Oldest Football league players:

1. Arthur Hoyle Smith. (Bury & Leicester 14 apps). DoB 8.5.1915. Age 101yrs 10 months. Confirmed as still alive.

2. George Haigh. (Stockport 7 apps). DoB. 3Q 1915. Age 101yrs 4 months approx. Confirmed as still alive.

3. Cyril William Bacon. (Orient. 121 apps). DoB 9.11.1919. Age 97.4. Not yet confirmed as alive.

4. George Stewart. (Brentford, QPR, Shrews. 74 apps). DoB 18.1.1920. Age 97.2. Not 100% confirmed but likely.

5. Joe Johnson (Lincoln & Workington. 52 apps) DoB 13.9.1920. Age 96.7. Not 100% confirmed but likely.

6. Colin Collindridge. (Sheff U, Forest, Coventry. 343 apps) DoB 15.11.1920. Age 96.4. Confirmed as still alive by two stattos.

7. Thomas Hubert Best (Chester, Cardiff, QPR). 81 apps). DoB 23.12.1920. Age 96.3. Confirmed as still alive in Hereford.

8. Dudley Kernick. (Torquay 41 apps.) DoB 29.8.1921. Age 95.6.
Confirmed as still alive and he has been contacted by statto.

Oldest Cup Finalists:

Although I have no info from Bolton/Blackpool/Brum it looks like two players from the 1946 Final are still alive: Arthur Turner of Charlton (Dob 22.1.1922) and Reg Harrison of Derby County (DoB 22.5.1923). I have had confirmation from both club historians. I guess no one from pre-war finals is likely as they would have to be 100ish?

sir craven · Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Posts: 90

Great stuff,keep them coming.

Pete’s Picture Palace · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2017 3:42 pm Post subject:

Forest's Colin Collindridge is in the middle in this photo from the early 50's. Wally Ardron is left and Jack Hutchinson right. Reckon Collindridge looks about 50 in this photo when he was just over 30. Good on him.

sir craven · Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Posts: 90

Does anyone know watfords oldest player?

Football Michael · Joined: 05 Sep 2019 Posts: 3

Hi I have been a statistician for many years and helped with books
And a football website with Barry Hugman
I have done extensive research on the deaths of footballers but have
Found 13 post war English players over 100 but no deaths can
Anyone help
William dewis brown born 4th June 1919
Clifton Chadwick born 26th January 1914 emigrated to Australia
John William Davies born 14th November 1916 Everton
Arthur Davison born 21st December 1915 emigrated to Australia
James Donnelly Irish born 6th may 1919
John Galloway born 29th October 1918 Scots
Henry Jones born 28th September 1918 hartlepool
Frederick kilshaw born 24th August 1916 new Brighton
Joseph McCormack born Wales 15th July 1916
John pattison born 19th December 1918 emigrated to Australia
George Thompson born Ireland 5th November ex Exeter
Vivian woodward born 20th may 1914 emigrated to Australia
Leonard young born 23rd February 1912 emigrated to Australia
Can anyone help most of these will have emigrated
Davies died around 1980 but I cant find it
Thanks Michael featherstone

Flaming Pie · Joined: 26 Nov 2016 Posts: 931

Michael, according to Wickipedia Vivian Woodward died 31 Jan 1954. He was living in Ealing. Apparently he was an outstanding player and a well respected man( isn’t that a song by the Kinks!) Here’s a photo of him with the ball at his feet.

Football Michael · Joined: 05 Sep 2019 Posts: 3

It's a different player played for Fulham
The one who emigrated was Welsh and had 5 brothers.one played for bournemouth

Michael