Monday 22 January 2018

THE PASSING OF JIMMY ARMFIELD


When Jimmy Armfield was called in the Blackpool manager's office to hear the news that his recent performances had warranted an international call up, he responded in modest terms by saying that it was the industry of the man who played in front of him (that is at right wing) Stanley Matthews, who made him look so good, Matthews by that time was in his 50s!

I have written a very nice blog about Jimmy who was part of the 1966 World Cup squad but could not overtake George Cohen of Fulham, who kept his place right through the tournament, as did the whole of the defensive half of the team. The other full back was Ray Wilson of Huddersfield, of course. Jimmy was voted the best right back in Europe in the early 1960s and captained the country 10 times.
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/jimmy-should-be-very-good-knight.html

Today, news of Jimmy death from cancer associated illnesses has been published. He was 82 and had suffered from various set backs since 2007. To cheer us up here are some of his great quotes, chirped when he was doing what he did rather well-commentate and comment.
http://www.azquotes.com/author/31568-Jimmy_Armfield
 Jimmy Armfield played for Blackpool 627 times and spent his whole career at the club
Jimmy played over 625 times for one club and made 43 international appearances. He went on to manage Bolton from 1971-4 and then took over from Clough at Leeds in 1974 for four years leading them to a European Cup Final which the Tangerines lost to Bayern Munich.
After this he went into the media successfully, was appointed High Sheriff of Lancashire and was awarded the CBE.  He has a stand at Bloomfield Road named after him and of course has a statue.

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