ALBERT WEARS THE CUP

Tracey took our Pilates class this morning-Hazel has the 'flu. The conversation with my near neighbour (a mature lady) went into what else Tracey teaches and she is known for dance. I then said that i thought  dance was excellent for sports and that I had recently seen the Ajax Youth squad indulging in "line dancing" as part of their fitness, flexibility lah di dah.

I then said that I remember seeing a photograph in the Charles Buchan Football Annual of Albert Quixall being put through his paces by a ballet teacher. I usually see the mist draw over peoples' eye when I chat football but this lady said "Oh yes, he was hero at Wednesday!!" We immediately bonded and then discussed Quixall's career and that of David Hirst too (bit later in history). She knew her stuff.

Albert Quixall was the Golden Boy of his generation, born in Sheffield, signed by Wednesday as am amateur in 1948, professional in 1950 and debut at 17 in 1951. He played 241 times for the Owls, scoring 63 goals from inside-forward.

After the Manchester United Munich air crash, Matt Busby signed Quixall as part of his Busby Babes campaign which took the stricken club to runners up in Division One (the top div in those days). Albert played 184 times for the Red Devils scoring 58 goals and took away an FA Cup medal in 1963. He soon was out of favour as United grew so he moved on to Oldham in 1964, then Stockport, Altrincham and finally Radcliffe Borough. Overall he played 5 times for the full England side and a few U23 and B internationals. Basically he almost made it!
Well he is 84 and still going. he made over 450 appearances in all.
Quixall wears the FA Cup...who else can you name?