BEWARE THE DISEASE IN OUR SEWERS

I was concerned about a news' bulletin today, warning the public about possible pollution in domestic water supplies, in a certain part of the country, that might be caused by the presence of human waste. Poliovirus has been detected in sewage samples collected in London between February and May this year, the U.K. Health Security Agency said today.  There have been no reported cases of paralysis, the agency said, but investigations are underway to determine if there is any community transmission.  People are recommended to check their "Polio vaccinations". 

I remember being taken to Fratton Park one Saturday and hearing an announcement about a footballer from Birmingham City, called Jeff Hall (born September 1929), who was very ill. These sorts of announcements were not common thank goodness but this one seemed important as it involved Polio.
The date was March 1959 and I was not very old. Just tall enough to see over the wall at the front of the main terrace.

One Sunday in March, Jeff Hall fell ill (now there won't be many sentences written today with so many "ll"s in it), with a sore throat; he didn't make training and soon was paralysed and taken to Birmingam hospital. He was placed in an "iron lung"; he had three throat operations but two weeks later, his condition had deteriorated so much that he died on April 4th 1959.
He was one of England's great full backs and of course a stalwart of the Birmingham side.

Once this condition had been diagnosed the doctors immediately sent out a warning that anyone who had been in contact with Jeff should report to their doctor immediately. There was immediate "panic"; Birmingham's three Easter games were cancelled and Midlands clubs and City's recent opposition were medically checked out.

The Football League recommended vaccinations and a panic set in, knowing that if a fit 29 year old footballer like Hall, could be struck down by the illness, then it was likely to affect anyone. It was the death of Hall – a young, fit, international footballer-from polio, which helped kick-start widespread public acceptance in Britain of the need for vaccination. Though the disease was generally feared and the Salk Vaccine was available, takeup had been slow. Hall's wife, Dawn, spoke on TV and to the media and her story forced the country's newspapers to "up" their coverage of the illness. News of Halls' untimely death, created a national outcry which encouraged, subsequently, the "Salke" vaccination programme, which saved many lives, demand for immunisation rocketed. Emergency vaccination clinics had to be set up and supplies of the vaccine flown in from the United States to cope with demand. I remember the jab well which became a routine for children!

Hall was born in Scunthorpe and brought up in Wilsden, West Yorkshire.. After leaving school, in 1945, he played for various junior clubs in the area, before joining his local Football League club, Bradford Park Avenue, then a Second Division side, where he remained an amateur and never made a first-team appearance. It was while playing for the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during his National Servise (compulsory in those days) that he was spotted by the Birmingham City chief  scout and Hall signed on professional forms in May 1950. He made his debut for Birmingham in 1951 and played 227 games for City.
He was an FA Cup Finalist  in1956, losing to Manchester City at Wembley, 3-1. He won 17 caps for England, making his debut in 1955 against Denmark and was never on a losing side wearing an England shirt. His illness and the condition of his health was reported on 25th March 1959.

"If Gill Merrick, (Birmingham and England's goalkeeper) was an emperor among goalkeepers, then Jeff Hall and his other full back Ken Green were his worthy paladins....(look it up!)" (Sunday Times)
There is a memorial clock sited at the club's St Andrew's Stadium.