Octopus of Odstock

A comment by his son 10 days ago on this page on the Canadian National Soccer League website confirms Chris Conway, ex-Bury and Ayr player is dead, but no date. https://thecnsl.com/2020/01/14/great-players-chris-conway/

From the ENSA website: (English National Football Association): Surname: Varney Forenames: John Francis Birthdate: 27-Nov-1929 Birth Place: Oxford Year of Death: 2021 Position: Full Back Debut: Manchester City v HULL CITY, Division 2 (28-Oct-1950) Total Appearances: 31 Total Goals: 4 Total Penalties: 0 Total Red Cards: 0 Died September 2021 when he had been Hull City`s oldest known surviving player.

Keith Thomas also died last month; https://www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk/news/19656827.daughters-praise-ex-oswestry-footballer-keith-thomas/ No date given. Played nearly 100 Football League appearances at Sheffield Wednesday, Cardiff City, Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City in the 1950s

It's not all bad, as Con Sullivan is still attending matches aged 93 - in fact, he was at one today - https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/boy-george-in-your-free-robins-matchday-programme/ Looking at the list, there's about 40 of the 85 odd names on there that we're confident are alive (or were until very recently) and another 40 I/we need to whittle down as either alive or dead. I think if we can whittle that 40 odd down to 10-20, then I can start at looking at the 1930 and 1931 names in 2022. As he is recognised as the oldest living Bristol City player, it means John McCarthy (b. 1922) can be taken off the list but with a ? by his name as to when he died.

Reg Beresford, who like Alf Patrick, celebrated his 100th birthday earlier this year, has, like Patrick, died a few months later. He died on the 14th October 2021 - see link here: https://www.walsallswimmingclub.com/post/reg-beresford-club-president-1921-2021 It's a lovely tribute on there as it shows these guys are often more than someone who played football once or twice:

I'm only aware of one public appearance since last year where he looked about the same but a bit paler. He's certainly not likely to be seen an awful lot in public I don't think.

Old Crem with terminal cancer take in 3,2,1....

Ah shoot, I enjoyed his books. Very enjoyable and readable escapism.

Bob Bondurant has died, aged 88.https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.autoweek.com/news/people/amp38243757/bob-bondurant-champion-driver-and-even-better-driving-instructor-has-died/

He did play in the 1986 World Cup. Denmark's involvement in that event, their first, has always had a romanticism about it in the press and so I think he would obit.

For completion, there are 5 English survivors from 1962: Bobby Charlton, Norman, Douglas, Alan Peacock and George Eastham. 1958 also has 5 - Charlton, Norman, Douglas and the aforementioned Banks and McDonald.

Pavol Molnar, part of the Czech side to reach the 1962 World Cup Final has died. Played in the 1958 World Cup too. https://futbalsfz.sk/sfz-smutok-zahalil-nas-fotbal-zomrel-pavol-molnar/

Although it's the football that was his largest body of work, I'll forever remember him for his brilliant commentary from 1992 and the rowing when the Searles beat the Abergnales. I'm sure there's a you tube link somewhere but no idea how to inbed it. Sad news

Correct. Kenny McA is by far the oldest living. Paul Goldsmith is the oldest living Indy 500 driver. Andre Milhoux also remains from 1956. Goldsmith and Foyt remain from Indy 1958. The only other living starters from the 1950's are David Piper and Peter Ashdown (albeit in F2 cars), from British Grand Prix 1959. By the way, one surviving driver from that era survives no.more: Mike Harris who raced in the 1962 South African Grand Prix died yesterday aged 82.

Genuinely really saddened, but not surprised.

Phil Hill - complications of Parkinson's. Stirling Moss - chest infection Peter Gethin - cancer Add in the non championship winners like Spence, Villoresi etc, it's not much better.The only living people I can find to have won any kind of non-championship Formula 1 race before 1980 are: Bruce Johnstone (Mozambique Grand Prix, 1961) - born 1937 Ian Scheckter (Rhodesian Grand Prix, 1974) - born 1947 Keke Rosberg (Race of Champions, 1978) - born 1948 Keith Holland (Madrid Grand Prix, 1969) - born 1935 and Kenneth McAlpine (West Sussex CC Race, 1953), born 1920

Probably because he's pretty healthy and won't likely be troubling the DL for a good few years yet

No, by Old Crem standards, he has terminal brain cancer (as any mistake is surely cancer) and has 20 minutes to live. It's always cancer with The Old Crem.

So too Lionel Blair, dying peacefully at 92. In a Hard Days Night.

https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/Login.asp Then follow prompts accordingly once logged in

Second 1982 keeper to die in less than a month; Dragan Pantelic of Yugoslavia died earlier this month: https://news.in-24.com/sports/ligue-1/amp/180806

I have very few genuine heroes. There are many I admire greatly (David Attenborough) say, but heroes? Nah, not many. One of them is Michael Palin and whilst I will be incredibly upset when he goes, in the last few years I have mentally prepared myself for it. He does seem to be going downhill much quicker than I wouldve expected ten years ago.

A few more names: Jack Parry, ex-Derby County - https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/nostalgia/battling-ex-derby-county-star-5607389 Steve Norris, ex Port Vale (amongst others) - https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/steve-norris-leek-football-dementia-5193147 List on the front page has been updated.

Maternally, Maurice Glassman and Thomasina Campbell are/were Linda's grandparents, who married in 1929 in Hackney. Thomasina Brydie Glassman was born in 1900 and died in 1989 in Enfield, so it's not her maternal grandmother. Nello's (Nello Pietro Luigi) mother's maiden name was Levanti. Therein it gets difficult as they didn't get married in the UK and Nello doesn't appear in the 1939 Register. Surprisingly, 65 Lusardi's do appear in that register, making it difficult to narrow it down for certain.

Either Uwe Seeler or Jairzinho perhaps as the oldest living great.