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From Sheffield United Football Club:
It is with great sadness at such a fantastic time for the Club that we inform our football family of the passing to a higher League of one of its members
Fred Furniss was Sheffield born and bred- a pupil of Phillimore Road school in Darnall who shone out as a sportsman as a youngster, playing at Football for both Sheffield and Yorkshire boys
Fred would tell you that he made his debut for Sheffield United as an Amateur away at Goodison Park, home of Everton, in the middle of an air raid- quite an entrance to a career in red and white that would span 433 games
He worked as a Bevin Boy at Orgreave colliery before joining the war effort in the Royal Artillery. The talented right back became a first team regular in 1943 and held his position until 1954, a measure of how great a player he was
His record as a penalty taker was superb, missing just 2 of the 17 that he took for the Club. He played a vital role in lifting the Wartime League North Championship of 1945/46 and also the League Division 2 title of 1952/53.
When Cec Colcwell finally took his place, he moved on to Chesterfield Town as a player coach before a spell at Worksop Town. Incredibly, Fred was playing local League football well into his 50’s- when he hung his boots up he then refereed many youngster’s games around the City
He was a formidable crown green bowler of some repute- an all-round gentleman, sportsman and Blade
Up to a few years ago he was a regular watcher at home games from the stands and also could be seen at every Senior Blades meeting- Fred led a full life
The Club salutes one of its oldest boys- Fred would have been delighted that we clinched promotion at the weekend and would be willing Chris and the boys to do what he did back in the day- lift the League championship
Our away game on Friday at Port Vale will see us in our black and orange change strip and, as we want to remember Fred in a manner befitting one of its sons, the team will don black arm bands in his memory for the home game against Bradford City
At the time of his death, Fred was the second oldest surviving Sheffield United player
The thoughts of the Club are with his family at this sad time
It is with great sadness at such a fantastic time for the Club that we inform our football family of the passing to a higher League of one of its members
Fred Furniss was Sheffield born and bred- a pupil of Phillimore Road school in Darnall who shone out as a sportsman as a youngster, playing at Football for both Sheffield and Yorkshire boys
Fred would tell you that he made his debut for Sheffield United as an Amateur away at Goodison Park, home of Everton, in the middle of an air raid- quite an entrance to a career in red and white that would span 433 games
He worked as a Bevin Boy at Orgreave colliery before joining the war effort in the Royal Artillery. The talented right back became a first team regular in 1943 and held his position until 1954, a measure of how great a player he was
His record as a penalty taker was superb, missing just 2 of the 17 that he took for the Club. He played a vital role in lifting the Wartime League North Championship of 1945/46 and also the League Division 2 title of 1952/53.
When Cec Colcwell finally took his place, he moved on to Chesterfield Town as a player coach before a spell at Worksop Town. Incredibly, Fred was playing local League football well into his 50’s- when he hung his boots up he then refereed many youngster’s games around the City
He was a formidable crown green bowler of some repute- an all-round gentleman, sportsman and Blade
Up to a few years ago he was a regular watcher at home games from the stands and also could be seen at every Senior Blades meeting- Fred led a full life
The Club salutes one of its oldest boys- Fred would have been delighted that we clinched promotion at the weekend and would be willing Chris and the boys to do what he did back in the day- lift the League championship
Our away game on Friday at Port Vale will see us in our black and orange change strip and, as we want to remember Fred in a manner befitting one of its sons, the team will don black arm bands in his memory for the home game against Bradford City
At the time of his death, Fred was the second oldest surviving Sheffield United player
The thoughts of the Club are with his family at this sad time
