'Oldest former footballer' who played for Huddersfield and Sheffield dies aged 104

Tributes have been paid to a former footballer who turned professional aged 17 in 1937 and went on to play for Huddersfield Town and Sheffield United.

Graham Bailey was thought to be oldest living former Football League player. He was 104 years old when he died on Friday, November 15.

Shropshire-born Bailey signed for Huddersfield Town in August 1936 and made his Central League debut against Burnley in September, playing at centre-half. Writer and author Lee Morris, a Huddersfield Town fan who met Bailey several times in recent years, has written an obituary for the club.

READ MORE: Huddersfield shop known for its stuffed croissants named best in England

READ MORE: Man charged after teenage boy attacked near Huddersfield school

He said: "In his early days at Leeds Road, Bailey shared digs in Rawthorpe Lane with teammates Harold Wood and Bob Gordon. Living nearby was Alf Young, by then a senior player, and he would often pass them in his £100 motorcar, a new import from America at the time, while they were walking down to Leeds Road.

"The pair eventually got wise to this and would time their walk for when he drove past. Sometimes they’d get a lift but other times he’d be flicking a ‘V’ sign as he drove by! If they were successful in getting a lift, they’d often babysit for Young."

Bailey, Wood and Gordon spent a lot of time together while they were young professionals, often playing golf during their time off from football.

When World War Two broke out in September 1939, Bailey combined his playing duties with work at Brook Motors, often working 12-hour shifts before heading back to Leeds Road for training - in the dark.

Bailey made his first team debut in May 1940. While he joined as a centre-half, Bailey spent most of his career at full-back, equally adept on either flank.

Towards the end of War, Bailey was called up and Town teammate Bob Hesford was his senior officer. Stationed in Durham, he would leave Durham on a Friday and stay in Crewe, making the rest of the journey to Huddersfield on the Saturday morning if they were at home.

"While he spent 12 years at Leeds Road, much of that time was spoiled by the Second World War and in the end, Bailey only played in the Football League for the Club for one season, playing 33 times during the 1946/47 season as Town finished 20th in Division One," wrote Morris.

"That season, Bailey was part of the squad that travelled to Copenhagen in December 1946. He enjoyed the trip, perhaps a little too much as he later recalled how he lost a shoe, and then on another occasion how the team visited a local brewery hours before a game against a Copenhagen Combination side!"

Bailey signed for Sheffield United in March, 1948. He retired from the game in 1950.

Bailey left Sheffield United to become a newsagent, taking on the family business on Westbourne Road, Marsh, Huddersfield. According to Bailey, “the family said it was about time I stopped messing about playing football and got a proper job!”

He remained in Huddersfield until 1958, when he relocated to Falmouth, with his wife Marjorie and sons Roger and Rodney, to run a newsagents in the town. While he often talked of his fondness for Huddersfield, he said he’d grown tired of the “smog and smoke” in the town.

Bailey settled in Falmouth, working in the town for many years before retirement. He later moved back up to Yorkshire in 1997, settling in Bridlington with his second wife, Mary.

Bailey kept abreast of all the goings-on at Town and regularly watched the games on television with his son, Roger, according to Morris.

He spent the final year of his life in Falmouth, living with Roger, and was 104 years old when he passed away on Friday.

"At the time of his death, he wasn’t just Huddersfield Town and Sheffield United’s oldest living player, he’s also believed to be the oldest living former Football League player," said Morris.

Morris described Bailey as a "lovely bloke and despite being in his 100s he was as sharp as a tack. His memory of events from over 80 years ago was impeccable and fascinating in equal measure."

A club spokesman said: "The thoughts of all at Huddersfield Town are with all of Graham’s family and friends at this time, and he will be sorely missed by us all."

Get all the latest and breaking Huddersfield news straight to your inbox by signing up to our daily newsletter here.