Octopus of Odstock

A few more fallers: Robert Scrugham, like Calow, a goalkeeper, and also like Calow, outlived his former team's league status (in this case, Workington), died in early October - Link Gerry Bright, former Northampton player, died in November - Instagram link just shy of his 90th birthday.

He was first sub on my Mmmm drop DDP theme team (which will likely be a one-off), as ill either do old footballers or James Stewart co-stars in 2026.

Yeah, I'll give this a go for the first time please

Charlie Calow died on New Year's Eve. https://www.funeraltimes.com/charles-john-herbert-charliecalow550847533 Calow was a goalkeeper for Ballyclare Comrades, Cliftonville, Distillery and Northern Ireland Amateurs, but makes the football league list courtesy of one game for Bradford Park Avenue back in 1952-1953. Also has a Wiki page here

There's a concerned tweet to him on the 31st with no response, which given his normal response on X, is significant. I suspect he died just around Christmas given he didn't post on social media.

Also played in 1978 World Cup and was part of the 1986 squad, but didn't play.

Well done Thatcher! I'm delighted with 5th and a theme team win.

Thank you Thatcher. Sad start to the year.

The wording of "this week" seems to suggest Tuesday as opposed to Wednesday. Otherwise, it would've simply put "today" or "Wednesday". It might take a family announcement to resolve this one.

Gordon Pulley, Gillingham stalwart, died just before Christmas, aged 88. Played over 200 games for the Kent side. https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/rip-gordon-pulley-1936-2024

Sam Nujoma?

Chuwit Kamolvisit - actually on my sub's list, but dropped as I don't think he's as ill as stated. I mean, he goes from hospice in Scotland to flying over to Thailand. Hmmmmmmm Raphael - very likely to die but didn't think he would be drop 40 Mehmet Ali Agca, Alexey Soldatov- similar to Kamolvisit Lady Antonia Fraser, Sam Nujoma - age reasons only, Aldrin was one more 90+ than I wanted Danny Estrin - came very close to putting him in but info is still vague Bryant Lin, Shirley Chung- not interesting enough Nicholas Monson, Bruce Willis, David Lynch - feels like 2026 Patrick Murray, James Whale - BORED OF THEM James Baker, Lucasz Kulas, Georg Koch - QO worries Bridgette Wilson Sampras - no info Imran Sherwani - he was the closest to the main team in the end. QO guaranteed, very ill, but just couldn't fit him in. He's in the theme team though.

Two theme teams this year: MMMM drop (All people beginning with the letter M) Michael Joplin Margrethe II Mike Beckwith Madge Hindle Michael Tilson Thomas Milos Zeman Marianne Faithfull Mary Beth Hurt Mark Volman Michael Keating Michael Bolton Mehmet Ali Agca Mark Patton Mikheil Saakashvili Mary Schumcker Mika Immonen Mari Grug Moamen Zakaria Matt James Michael Campbell and Elton Welsby's Sporting Triangles is back: Amarildo Lucasz Kulas Denis Law Nigel Starmer-Smith David Sadler Chic Bates Jimmy Calderwood George Burley Black Bart Scott Hamilton Agnes Keleti Imran Sherwani John Pender Georg Koch Russell Hoult Eddie Annand Moamen Zakaria David Syd Lawrence Doug Nye Eddie Jordan

Here's my attempt - a top 5 finish like 2024 would be very welcome Name Ananda Lewis Andy Scott Becki Bruneau Black Bart Buzz Aldrin Esther Rantzen Ian Smith Joe Thompson Jonathan Clements Judy Loe Kanya King Linda Nolan Linda Tirado Martyn Stewart Mary Schumcker Peter Yarrow Sophie Kinsella Steve McMichael Theo Burrell Toni Hilland

Thank you everyone. Sad news, but at least it's confirmed now.