THE TWO RONNIES AND JOHNNY AND TOMMY

One of great comedians, Ronnie Corbett passed on to Heaven's Stage on this day in 2016 and we were inundated with his (and with the other Ronnie!) many brilliant "sketches" over the next 24 hours. Corbett was 85.

Born: 4 December 1930, Edinburgh Died: 31 March 2016 (age 85 years), Croydon  Height: 1.52 m

So I thought, at the time, 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?

Bear in mind this Blog was published at the time of Ronnie's death.

I do know that the smallest side at the time in the Premier League on average was Arsenal "taping in" at 1.788 metres. Next smallest was Manchester City and then Norwich. There were 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, at the time, more about individuals in the 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.
In the picture:
The "long", in England kit (Frederick Goodall) and the "short"
(James McMullan) and the ref (William Bell). Heights not available!

and here are Johnny White and Tommy Harmer-two of the greatest inside forwards from Spurs' 1960s squad.