Octopus of Odstock

One for @maryportfuncity here - Carlisle's 'oldest' living player returns to Brunton Park - https://www.carlisleunited.co.uk/news/2023/september/club-special-day-for-a-special-guest/ Harrison IS on the list, but we didn't know much about him, so it's good to tick him as alive. However, I'd be more inclined to remove James Kelly (b. 1925) as dead as per the above, if it wasn't for the fact that Ernie Bond, who played 192 games for Carlisle (so in other words, would be too big a name to miss off their records) wasn't still alive at the age of 93. So I'm not as convinced in Carlisle's records.

Brilliant, thanks for this. These things are never finite, but there are not many other James Adam (with no middle name) born in 1931 in the UK, let alone in April, so I'd go along with that. There is one other Robert Bruce born Q4 in Islington but... The chances of there being two Robert Bruce's born the same day and both still being alive aged 95... I'd be inclined to say it's the ex Orient man.

5 and a bit years is not too bad -sadly. 2014 - 1st death 3 years 2010 - 1st death 7 years 2006 - 1st death 4 years 2002 - 1st death 1 year 1998 - 1st death 3 years 1994 - of course, the first death was whilst the tournament was still taking place, hopefully a situation never to be repeated. 1990 - 1st death 3 years 1986 - 1st death 3 years 1982 - 1st death 5 months Of course, there are more players now than in previous editions too.

FWIW, the headline on BBC news does say 'Kate' discharged...

Motorsport historian, historic racing driver and award winning author Oliver Heal died last Tuesday from oesophageal cancer. A little bit more about him here. Obit to follow in due course. https://www.nationaltransporttrust.org.uk/media-centre-top/photo-gallery/2023-18/achievement-awards/lifetime-acheivement-award-oliver-heal

First 2018 player to go I think. Came on as a sub versus Tunisia and Belgium.

To clarify, It's not actually a rule I would bring in if I were hosting it again, or even one I'd be much in favour of, but it would stop the Jason Smith type debates. I think at least 3 or 4 others on my team don't have a Wiki page but shouldn't have any QO issues.

I was surprised he made it until 2024, he's been very ill since November. EDIT He had actually been ill for much longer. He had pre existing liver conditions but after appearing very ill at a Rushden and Diamonds event last summer, came out with the announcement. Poor lad.

Time has already posted, but yep, Stuart Gray has died. He played a long time for Reading, and he now becomes, by far, the most recent Reading FC death (it was Neale Cooper, 1992). Not entirely sure if the club will last a lot longer than Stuart, to be honest. Didn't quite.reach his initial potential, but very able for us, RIP.

I think that Brighton opera singer picked by Banana, as well as Amy Price are very much on the cusp of FFBI but it is all within the rules. I think if you really want to stop the debate about the fringe picks, then the rule might have to be that they have to have a Wikipedia page to qualify.

Was just.coming to post this. If you check X, he died on the day the Chronicle first reported it.

Gerrit van Kouwen, winner of the 1984 Formula Ford Festival, and later a driver in British F3 and British Touring Cars, has died of cancer, aged 60. https://autosport.nl/klasse/nieuws/38828/formule-ford-held-gerrit-van-kouwen-60-overleden?fbclid=IwAR38739rai3RM8qYgG0dTCaMPfkhlnD2bbkkDcLvWB30JYVw5M6p_3CTWms

I think a few retweets on X to relevant local QO news agencies might do the trick...

One more to point out: Steve Smith, picked by myself for my sporting theme team, is the former Huddersfield Town player now with dementia, not the drummer from Journey.

There was - at one point - if you do a Google search, a note via the BBC, where it links to that Chronicle obit, similar to below where it covers local stories l. But presumably as this isn't an article that is actually ON the BBC, I presume it wouldn't count anyway.

I did strongly consider him for DDP but two things stopped me: I thought he might be disqualified for FFBI I could see him dying off the radar But will definitely die in 2024.

Colin McDonald, chosen by two teams, is the former England international footballer, not the Australian cricketer who died a few years ago.

Mokhtar Hasni, part of the Tunisian 1978 squad, has died, aged 71 - https://www.dhnet.be/regions/centre/2024/01/22/lancien-joueur-de-la-raal-international-tunisien-et-commercant-louvierois-bien-connu-mokhtar-hasni-est-decede-D633E6QFUNGYPNZKJXNPZEUBGM/ Didn't end up coming off the bench though, so saw no game time in Argentina.

Tawl Ross, guitarist who was once a member of Funkadelic untl 1971, died 3rd January 2024 - https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=909397630544508&set=a.279010520249892

Not as well known as Baldwin or Riva, but Jim McCusker, former Bradford City and Stockport County goalkeeper, has died, aged 84. link from the Book of Face

Confirmation via the Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2024/01/21/graham-bright-conservative-mp-john-major-margaret-thatcher/

The Alan Jones listed for Formula Fatality's team should be the former F1 World Champion, not the Australian rugby coach that he is currently listed under. I'd be happy to help - albeit later in the year - with a lot of these bios (updating them, putting dates and places of birth in) if that would help.

Alex South has died, Liverpool's 2nd oldest living player: https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/rest-peace-alex-south But the Everton side, I read on X, that Bert Harris, 92, is going to give an interview to a fan website, so he's still got some marbles.

Remember him well, a decent man. Sorry to hear of this.

So disappointed about Tu Youyou's entry is so bland and doesn't mention Chucklevision and her sister Tu Meemee