Post by QPR Report on Apr 4, 2009 23:12:47 GMT
[I'm going to change this stupid bad word deleter! Done that]
As noted on the dot.org: Alan Suddick has died
I remember him playing for Blackpool
INDEPENDENT/Alex Murphy
Alan Suddick: Midfielder whose skills endeared him to fans wherever he played
Alan Suddick was a midfield player of extravagant talents, whose virtuosity on the ball prompted one of his captains to compare him to George Best.
Suddick began his professional career with Newcastle United, the team he had supported as a boy, and it was clear from an early age that the Chester-le-Street lad was a gifted ball-player. The Magpies captain, Bobby Moncur, wrote in his autobiography that Suddick had "as much natural ability as George Best". Moncur also suggested that Suddick was one of the best English players never to have won a full cap (although he was an Under-23 international).
Suddick failed to deliver fully on his rich promise for different reasons to Best. Suddick, quite simply, was born in the wrong era. He broke into the professional game at a time when football was becoming more utilitarian, and greater stress was placed on physical endurance rather than on skill. Suddick was no softy, but his style of play did not always fit comfortably into an orthodox formation. He did still manage to enjoy a long career, but there was always a sense that he could have done more, as a succession of managers failed to find the best way to harness his abilities.
The young Suddick was scouted by Newcastle United after playing for a youth club in his home town, and he fulfilled his childhood ambition by signing for the club. His father had been a professional footballer with Barnsley.
After just two games for the reserve team, Suddick was thrust into Second Division action, and he made his debut at 17 in a 4-1 win at home to Charlton Athletic. At the time he was Newcastle's youngest-ever player. In that same season, 1961-62, Suddick helped a golden generation of United youngsters to win the much-coveted FA Youth Cup, beating Wolves 2-1 in the final. Suddick developed into a first-team regular the following season, and also played for England Under-23s against Belgium and Yugoslavia.
With Suddick starring, Newcastle won promotion back to the First Division in 1964-65 as champions of the Second. But United struggled on their return to the top flight, and for much of the next season they battled against relegation.
Although Suddick had clashed with the United manager, Joe Harvey, earlier in the season over his position in the team (Suddick was desperate to show what he could do in a central role), he put his personal grievances to one side during the latter stages of the season, scoring 12 goals to help the team survive.
That was to prove the high water mark of his time at St James' Park. With Newcastle stuck near the bottom of the table again in November 1966, Harvey decided to carry out drastic surgery on his squad. Suddick was included in the ensuing fire sale, and was transferred to Blackpool for a fee of £63,000.
Suddick thrived in his new seaside surroundings. He finished his first full season in a tangerine shirt as the club's top scorer, and in 1969-70 he played every match as Blackpool won promotion to the First Division. He even had a taste of European football, as Blackpool took part in the Anglo-Italian Cup. Fans with long memories still regard Suddick's performance in the final against Bologna in 1971, which the Lancashire club won 2-1 after extra-time, as one of the best by a Blackpool player since Stanley Matthews' days. Blackpool defended the trophy the following season, but lost against Roma in the final.
From the early 1970s onwards Suddick's career was interrupted by injuries, and he became less of a fixture in the side. In 1976 he was sold to Stoke City for £12,000, after playing 371 games for the Seasiders and scoring 81 goals. He remained a crowd favourite to the end.
Suddick's stay in the Potteries was brief. He played only nine times for Stoke, and spent the last few years of his career in the lower divisions or in non-league football, at Southport, Bury, Barrow and Lancaster City. After hanging up his boots, Suddick had spells as a coach back at Blackpool, and he managed Barrow while also running a hotel. He also earned a living as a decorator.
He chose to retire in Blackpool, where the supporters never forgot his singular talents. He was inducted into the club's hall of fame when it was launched in 2006 and was a regular attendee at Blackpool's matches. He loved to spend time chatting with old team-mates, who knew him as "Suddy".
It was revealed late last year that Suddick was suffering from Cancer, and he underwent several operations with stoicism as surgeons strived to contain the disease. He finally succumbed to the illness and died in his sleep in hospital on 16 March with members of his family present. He was 64.
Alan Suddick, footballer: born Chester-le-Street 2 May 1944; played for Newcastle United 1961-66, Blackpool 1966-76, Stoke City 1976-77, Bury 1977-78, Barrow 1978-79; died Manchester 16 March 2009.
www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/alan-sudD***-midfielder-whose-skills-endeared-him-to-fans-wherever-he-played-1662269.html
As noted on the dot.org: Alan Suddick has died
I remember him playing for Blackpool
INDEPENDENT/Alex Murphy
Alan Suddick: Midfielder whose skills endeared him to fans wherever he played
Alan Suddick was a midfield player of extravagant talents, whose virtuosity on the ball prompted one of his captains to compare him to George Best.
Suddick began his professional career with Newcastle United, the team he had supported as a boy, and it was clear from an early age that the Chester-le-Street lad was a gifted ball-player. The Magpies captain, Bobby Moncur, wrote in his autobiography that Suddick had "as much natural ability as George Best". Moncur also suggested that Suddick was one of the best English players never to have won a full cap (although he was an Under-23 international).
Suddick failed to deliver fully on his rich promise for different reasons to Best. Suddick, quite simply, was born in the wrong era. He broke into the professional game at a time when football was becoming more utilitarian, and greater stress was placed on physical endurance rather than on skill. Suddick was no softy, but his style of play did not always fit comfortably into an orthodox formation. He did still manage to enjoy a long career, but there was always a sense that he could have done more, as a succession of managers failed to find the best way to harness his abilities.
The young Suddick was scouted by Newcastle United after playing for a youth club in his home town, and he fulfilled his childhood ambition by signing for the club. His father had been a professional footballer with Barnsley.
After just two games for the reserve team, Suddick was thrust into Second Division action, and he made his debut at 17 in a 4-1 win at home to Charlton Athletic. At the time he was Newcastle's youngest-ever player. In that same season, 1961-62, Suddick helped a golden generation of United youngsters to win the much-coveted FA Youth Cup, beating Wolves 2-1 in the final. Suddick developed into a first-team regular the following season, and also played for England Under-23s against Belgium and Yugoslavia.
With Suddick starring, Newcastle won promotion back to the First Division in 1964-65 as champions of the Second. But United struggled on their return to the top flight, and for much of the next season they battled against relegation.
Although Suddick had clashed with the United manager, Joe Harvey, earlier in the season over his position in the team (Suddick was desperate to show what he could do in a central role), he put his personal grievances to one side during the latter stages of the season, scoring 12 goals to help the team survive.
That was to prove the high water mark of his time at St James' Park. With Newcastle stuck near the bottom of the table again in November 1966, Harvey decided to carry out drastic surgery on his squad. Suddick was included in the ensuing fire sale, and was transferred to Blackpool for a fee of £63,000.
Suddick thrived in his new seaside surroundings. He finished his first full season in a tangerine shirt as the club's top scorer, and in 1969-70 he played every match as Blackpool won promotion to the First Division. He even had a taste of European football, as Blackpool took part in the Anglo-Italian Cup. Fans with long memories still regard Suddick's performance in the final against Bologna in 1971, which the Lancashire club won 2-1 after extra-time, as one of the best by a Blackpool player since Stanley Matthews' days. Blackpool defended the trophy the following season, but lost against Roma in the final.
From the early 1970s onwards Suddick's career was interrupted by injuries, and he became less of a fixture in the side. In 1976 he was sold to Stoke City for £12,000, after playing 371 games for the Seasiders and scoring 81 goals. He remained a crowd favourite to the end.
Suddick's stay in the Potteries was brief. He played only nine times for Stoke, and spent the last few years of his career in the lower divisions or in non-league football, at Southport, Bury, Barrow and Lancaster City. After hanging up his boots, Suddick had spells as a coach back at Blackpool, and he managed Barrow while also running a hotel. He also earned a living as a decorator.
He chose to retire in Blackpool, where the supporters never forgot his singular talents. He was inducted into the club's hall of fame when it was launched in 2006 and was a regular attendee at Blackpool's matches. He loved to spend time chatting with old team-mates, who knew him as "Suddy".
It was revealed late last year that Suddick was suffering from Cancer, and he underwent several operations with stoicism as surgeons strived to contain the disease. He finally succumbed to the illness and died in his sleep in hospital on 16 March with members of his family present. He was 64.
Alan Suddick, footballer: born Chester-le-Street 2 May 1944; played for Newcastle United 1961-66, Blackpool 1966-76, Stoke City 1976-77, Bury 1977-78, Barrow 1978-79; died Manchester 16 March 2009.
www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/alan-sudD***-midfielder-whose-skills-endeared-him-to-fans-wherever-he-played-1662269.html