So I thought, in tribute to him, since he was little fellow, I would have look to see who were the smallest players to play football in England. Well, it was a tough job because everything seemed to go to the Premier League, so I shall never know about that midget in 1947 who played for Charlton Athletic, without ridiculously in depth research, Does anyone know who is the shortest footballer in Division Two?
I do know that the smallest side in the Premier League on average is Arsenal "taping in" at 1.788 metres. Next smallest are Manchester City and then Norwich. There are mms in it.
Tallest unsurprisingly happen to be long ball WBA at 1.841 m with Watford and Southampton in the top three.
As I found out more about individuals in PL, the following names came amongst the "shortest"; Pienaar, Baines ("tall at 1.70m), Lennon and Barmby (now retired I should think) all of whom played for Everton, a team presently ranked 4th tallest on average.
Others you will know who are still playing include Aaron Lennon (5'5" 1.65m), Leon Britton, Nathan Dyer, Jermaine Defoe, Wes Hoolahan and a few others all around 1.68m mark and smaller.
Little footballers are a pest. With a low centre of gravity, quick feet, they dive between your legs as Tommy Harmer, late of Spurs used to do. On March 31st 1928, 80,000 people at Wembley witnessed the "Wee Blue Devils", a Scottish international side with Alex James (5'7") in the forward line. He was the tallest of the five and scored two (one a header) in a 5-1 mauling of England. Alec Jackson snatched a hat trick. Alan Morton of Rangers at 5'4" played on the wing and supplied crosses.
Being little their skill and science did the trick on the famous turf, Despite the diminuitive Scots having to defend England's long ball tactics, the only England goal came at the end of the game.
LEFT!
The long (Frederick Goodall) and the short (James McMullan) and the ref (William Bell).
No comments:
Post a Comment