Octopus of Odstock

Another Covid scalp apparently.

Adam Musial, 1974 stalwart for Poland has died. Obit in Polish, but I expect one might turn up in English in due course, not least because he went from the bright lights of World Cup 1974 to playing for Hereford United for three seasons! - https://sport.onet.pl/pilka-nozna/kadra/adam-musial-nie-zyje-ostatni-wywiad-z-bylym-reprezentantem-polski/vckedhe

Place of death was Salisbury. I think the death certificate has botched his date of birth, but I do think it's our man.

Okay, this is my theory with Jim Jowett. Jowett's name was Sylvester James Jowett and there are/were very few Sylvester Jowett's around. I believe the birth date listed for SJJ is possibly incorrect. There is a SJJ who was born on the 24th January (not the 27th) 1930 and who died in May 1986 in Salisbury. So it's the wrong date, wrong year and wrong area for SJJ who played for York City and spent most of his life in Yorkshire. But this is my theory and it's all based on the complete lack of SJ's elsewhere of that age AND the fact it's the same middle name as well? I think it's got to be the same man. So how do you explain the difference? Well my theory is SJJ died on holiday or business suddenly. He would've been just 56. Through my other research, I have seen that a death certificate is only as good as the information provided. If a family member wasn't around and it was a business associate or something, they could easily have put the wrong birthdate as they might not have known. It's not 100% but I cannot believe there was another SJJ born just three days later in the month around the late 1920's/early 1930's - there's no evidence. Nothing on 192.com which you can find Ray Ruffett etc. on for example... Also, if SJJ is still alive, there's no evidence of it.

Thanks for this. Jim Jowett died in the 1980s by the way. I'll find the information tonight and post it here.

Not good enough for OoO's strict rules.

Never played in a World Cup Finals game though...

I liked Des O'Connor as a person. A genuinely warm, nice man who wasn't afraid to laugh at himself, had little ego considering his extensive career and only wanted to entertain. His programmes were too light and fluffy for my liking but he was a good egg. RIP Des.

Bradley Walsh Nicky Byrne Matt Smith MC Harvey Wolf from Gladiators Rod Stewart Olly Murs Steve Harris and Martin Keown.

Fergus O'Kelly has died https://www.irishpost.com/news/tributes-paid-to-actor-fergus-okelly-father-teds-laughing-priest-who-has-sadly-passed-away-197457 Played Father Barty Dunne, the 'laughing priest'.

Glad you think the possibility of pending unemployment is a joke.

I can tell you, as someone who works as a contractor to them, it's more than 10%. I'd say more like 40% at least.

Peter Tobin? Sidney Cooke?

I think, without being home to check, that I did know. Either way, great find!

He is much frailer now but bear in mind he is commentating from his home and not a professional sound booth at the event. Not sure if that affected anything re. the difference.

Last survivor of the 1954 squad - England join Yugoslavia, Hungary, Belgium, Brazil and the Czechs as having no survivors left.

2004 - King Harald V, (1/20) 2005 - Derek Martin (1/20) 2006 - (0/20) 2007 - (0/20) 2008 - Velimir Zajec (1/20) 2009 - Ahmed Fatfat, (1/20) 2010 - Savvas Andrea, Victor Mears (2/20) 2011 - Michael Douglas (1/20) 2012- Wilfred Benitez, (1/20) 2013 -, Ian Farmer, Janet Fielding, (2/20) 2014 - Yahya Jammeh, Wilko Johnson, Kai Fu Lee, Vojislav Seselj, Pat Rice (5/20) 2017 - Pele, Mario Zagallo, Nikita Simonyian, Bobby Charlton, Antonio Carbajal (5/20) Of my theme teams, 2008 sees Bobby Moncur, Gary Kelly and Maurice Norman still BREATHING (3/20). 2009 Alan Hudson, Kelly, Paul Gascoigne and Mel Sterland alive (4/20). All of 2010 are dead (0/20)and 2011 sees Tim Wilby and Sir John Hall remain (2/20)

I agree that the Duke of Kent looks very Frail and has lost a lot of weight. I think he would be an excellent DL candidate.

On that basis, I'd argue George Floyd's death to be the most significant. Connery is one of many, like Kirk Douglas and Livvie De Havilland that is up there for most famous though.

Indeed, you're right. All 4 Bungles are alive. And both Zippys are dead. Apologies for my bungle about Bungle.

Arguably Willy Wonka, Freddie Flintstone, Bungle and Zippy are dead too, a bit in the same way Mork is. Sorry, I know saying bluntly Zippy is dead is a bit much to take in.

It is actually nice to add one name, rather than take it away - Johnny Gibbons, still alive at 95. I removed him as Ipswich Town were so adamant about their 'oldest player' but people have done their research and JG is now back in the list: https://superhotspur.com/2020/06/05/my-piece-on-one-of-spurs-last-surviving-former-players-from-the-early-1950s-john-gibbons/

Nice profile on Tony Collins - https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12054240/tony-collins-the-first-black-manager-in-english-professional-football

Williams was ex Newport, yes. Jackson was same birth date, yes

Cope also has had COPD for yearscand to be honest with you, I'm surprised he's still alive.