Jump to content
Octopus of Odstock

Oldest Living football league players

Recommended Posts

Liam Munroe, one time Republic of Ireland international who made the 1933 list courtesy of a single game for Bristol City, has died, aged 90.

 

Better known for his time at Dundalk and Ards.

 

https://www.ardsfc.co.uk/news/liam-munroe-passes-away?fbclid=IwY2xjawEk1VFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHcvpI7jmoT2K9Kz7K50XDkN_9WW_Ho4f-aRrTG0wdw6wn-vqcqnkFlw8RA_aem_SWp8W40nepTG8_ssCb91pQ

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 15/12/2022 at 22:43, Octopus of Odstock said:

Okay, I found this:

 

 
  · We are truly saddened to learn from his family this morning that Peter Heathcote passed away after a short illness on Easter Sunday. He was well known to a huge number of people in the Essex football scene and loved by all.
Peter, aged 89, was to our knowledge the oldest surviving Southend United footballer, and also we believe was the last Shrimper alive who had played for the club before its move to Roots Hall in 1955, having played for us twice in goal during the 1951/52 season.
 
Therefore we are pretty safe to remove Ernie Butler. Heathcote, I am sure, would've said something about a team-mate from that season still being alive.


For completeness, Ernie Butler's Hugman's page has now been updated to say that he died on 17th July 2014, aged 89, in Thornaby.

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, Ulitzer95 said:


For completeness, Ernie Butler's Hugman's page has now been updated to say that he died on 17th July 2014, aged 89, in Thornaby.

 

Cheers, I found this recently and sent to Hugmans, apologies I didn't follow it up here.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hugman's has confirmed 4 deaths:

Neil Langman (2021)

Jimmy Belcher (2023)

Gerry Smyth (2013)

Ken Brown (2023) - Also on Coventry City Former Players webpage.

 

So all 4 have been removed off the list on the front page.

  • Thanks 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@Octopus of Odstock, someone edited the Wiki page of Man Utd's oldest player Joe Lancaster (wiki) this evening to say that he died on 8th October, aged 98.

The IP address looks credible but I'll leave it to you and Hugman's to make enquiries.

Am I really right in thinking he was the 2nd oldest player we had a confirmed living status for, after Graham Bailey (born 1920)? That gap is huge!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
4 hours ago, Ulitzer95 said:

@Octopus of Odstock, someone edited the Wiki page of Man Utd's oldest player Joe Lancaster (wiki) this evening to say that he died on 8th October, aged 98.

The IP address looks credible but I'll leave it to you and Hugman's to make enquiries.

Am I really right in thinking he was the 2nd oldest player we had a confirmed living status for, after Graham Bailey (born 1920)? That gap is huge!

 

Yep,  I'm not at all convinced about any of those in-between actually being alive. 

 

Nothing about Lancaster yet, but no reason to disbelieve it. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 10/10/2024 at 01:17, Ulitzer95 said:

@Octopus of Odstock, someone edited the Wiki page of Man Utd's oldest player Joe Lancaster (wiki) this evening to say that he died on 8th October, aged 98.

The IP address looks credible but I'll leave it to you and Hugman's to make enquiries.

Am I really right in thinking he was the 2nd oldest player we had a confirmed living status for, after Graham Bailey (born 1920)? That gap is huge!

 

Still nothing yet to confirm Lancaster. 

 

However, one of the queries between Bailey and Lancaster was James Kelly, ex-Carlisle (and on Tottenham books). He seems to be well remembered in Drogheda, where I suspect he went back to. A date of death eludes us for now, but he IS definitely dead. Given that this letter was written nearly 25 years ago, Kelly has been dead a long time.

 

https://www.independent.ie/news/droghedean-writes-about-a-soccer-team-of-the-40s/27122560.html

 

Talking of Kellys, I've also decided to remove Mike Kelly from the living pile. There's been no recent news about him and he played a handful of games for Crewe. I suspect he moved back to Ireland and again, probably died some years ago. Of course, I'd like it all neat and tidy, but I also have to be realistic.

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 26/07/2023 at 23:00, Octopus of Odstock said:

I've deleted four people off the list as I don't have any belief they are alive and in all likelihood, we'll never know.

 

A post in 2019 called Willie McInnes, 'probably' Accrington's oldest living player. He is definitely still alive and doing pretty well, albeit he's aged a lot in 3 years. (Covid effect maybe?)

 

Looks like  goalkeeper Willie McInnes has popped his footy boots, reportedly: 

 

  • Like 5

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Jimmy Walker Wiki ex-Doncaster, Linfield and Northern Ireland international actually died in 2006. From his family tree on Ancestry:

 

Timeline

  • 1932Age 0(AGE)

    Select fact

    Birth

    29 Mar 1932  Belfast, Northern Ireland

    1 source
  • 1951Age19

    Select fact

    Occupation

    1951  Belfast, Northern Ireland

    Jimmy Walker was one of the most highly rated young centre-forwards playing in junior football.

     
  • 1955Age23

    Select factView
    8504ff97-4007-4260-b639-037f12494242.jpg

    Occupation

    1955  Northern Ireland

    Played forward for the national northern ireland football team

    1 media

    21st September 1978  Belfast, Antrim, Northern Ireland

    2006Age74

    Select fact

    Death

    3 May 2006  Northern Ireland

    2 sources

    2006

    Select factView

    Burial

    8 May 2006  Belfast, Northern Ireland

    2 sources
     

    Web: Belfast, Northern Ireland, Burial Indexes, 1869-2011

    Record details
    Name James Walker
    Gender Male
    Age 74
    Record Type Burial
    Last Known Residence Flat 1 363 Holywood Rd Belfast (In 2606) BT4 2LR
    Death Date 3 May 2006
    Burial Date 8 May 2006
    Burial Place Belfast, Northern Ireland
  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm also going to claim this chap is Peter Smith, the former Gillingham player.

 

There is only one Peter J Smith born in Hampshire in Apr-May-Jun 1932 - Hugman's has him born on 6th May, but given there's only one PJS, and the fact that this PJS died very near Gillingham, I'm pretty sure it's our man and his birthdate is incorrect on Hugman's.

 


Peter John Smith from tree
Record information.
Birth 10 May 1932 Andover, Hampshire, England
Residence 1939 Hampshire, England
Marriage Apr 1972 Chatham, Kent, England
Death 2006 Chatham, Kent, England
  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I could never find Stockport's Roy Vairey but now I know why - it's misspelt on Hugman's - Hugmans. Died as long ago as 1980!

 

Roy Henry Vairy

1932–1980

BIRTH 10 JUN 1932  Hemsworth, Yorkshire West Riding, England

DEATH 20 JUL 1980  Bridlington, Humberside, Englan

  • 1932Age 0(AGE)

    Select fact

    Birth

    10 Jun 1932  Hemsworth, Yorkshire West Riding, England

    2 sources
  • 1939Age7

    Select fact

    Residence

    1939  Hemsworth, Yorkshire (West Riding), England

    Marital Status: Single

    1 source
  • 1

  • Death

    20 Jul 1980  Bridlington, Humberside, England

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
2 hours ago, Octopus of Odstock said:

Jimmy Walker Wiki ex-Doncaster, Linfield and Northern Ireland international actually died in 2006. From his family tree on Ancestry:

 

Timeline

  • 1932Age 0(AGE)

    Select fact

    Birth

    29 Mar 1932  Belfast, Northern Ireland

    1 source
  • 1951Age19

    Select fact

    Occupation

    1951  Belfast, Northern Ireland

    Jimmy Walker was one of the most highly rated young centre-forwards playing in junior football.

     
  • 1955Age23

    Select factView
    8504ff97-4007-4260-b639-037f12494242.jpg

    Occupation

    1955  Northern Ireland

    Played forward for the national northern ireland football team

    1 media

    21st September 1978  Belfast, Antrim, Northern Ireland

    2006Age74

    Select fact

    Death

    3 May 2006  Northern Ireland

    2 sources

    2006

    Select factView

    Burial

    8 May 2006  Belfast, Northern Ireland

    2 sources
     

    Web: Belfast, Northern Ireland, Burial Indexes, 1869-2011

    Record details
    Name James Walker
    Gender Male
    Age 74
    Record Type Burial
    Last Known Residence Flat 1 363 Holywood Rd Belfast (In 2606) BT4 2LR
    Death Date 3 May 2006
    Burial Date 8 May 2006
    Burial Place Belfast, Northern Ireland


Good job on all these OoO.

If you can get Hugman's to update their profile for Jimmy Walker, I'll use it to update his Wiki page. For now I've moved him to Possibly Living on there as he's 90+ with no evidence of being alive in 10+ years.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
5 hours ago, Ulitzer95 said:


Good job on all these OoO.

If you can get Hugman's to update their profile for Jimmy Walker, I'll use it to update his Wiki page. For now I've moved him to Possibly Living on there as he's 90+ with no evidence of being alive in 10+ years.

 

I think the Belfast burial index  that https://online.belfastcity.gov.uk/find-burial-records/BurialRecordDetails.aspx?RecordID=9439.39752 should be enough for Wiki?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

One of the oldest confirmed living players has died; Gordon Revel of Mansfield. Moved into a care home at the end of 2023, died a few weeks ago. Note slightly different birthdate than what is on Hugman's. Funeral Directors post

Capture.JPG

  • Like 3

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.

×

Important Information

Your use of this forum is subject to our Terms of Use