Ken Sykes
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kenneth Sykes[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 29 January 1926[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Darlington, England | ||
| Date of death | 2008 (aged 82) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1946–1947 | Darlington | 6 | (2) |
| 1947–1949 | Middlesbrough | 0 | (0) |
| 1949–1950 | Hartlepool United | 1 | (0) |
| – | Murton Colliery Welfare | 0 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Kenneth "Ken" Sykes (29 January 1926 – 2008) was an English footballer who played as a forward in the Football League for Darlington and Hartlepool United. He was also on Middlesbrough's books without playing League football for the club, and also played non-league football for Murton Colliery Welfare.
Life and career
Sykes was born in Darlington, County Durham,[1] where he attended Albert Road School and played for its football team.[2] He worked as a railwayman during the Second World War, and signed for Darlington in 1944 at the age of 18.[3] He also joined the Air Training Corps, playing football for Durham ATC against other counties[4] and for the North-East Command team that won the ATC National Shield; he scored twice in the final.[5][6]
When the Football League resumed after the war, Sykes, described as having "scored prolifically in the reserves",[3] was in Darlington's first team. He scored in a 3–3 draw with Chester on 14 September 1946,[7] and again two days later, in a 4–1 defeat at Hartlepools United.[8] He played six matches in all in the Third Division North before signing for First Division club Middlesbrough.[9] He never played for their first team,[1] and after one match back in the Third Division for Hartlepools in April 1950, a 1–0 home defeat against former club Darlington,[10] he moved into non-league football with Murton Colliery Welfare.[11] When he was 28, he gave up football.[3]
Sykes died in 2008 at the age of 82.[12]
References
- ^ a b c d Hugman, Barry J., ed. (1998). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–1998. Queen Anne Press. p. 528. ISBN 978-1-85291-585-8.
- ^ "Darlington, Albert Road School, football team". The Durham Record. Durham County Council. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
- ^ a b c "Memories in sound and text". Farewell to Feethams. Darlington Supporters' Trust. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
- ^ "County A.T.C. match". Yorkshire Post. 2 January 1945. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|subscription=ignored (|url-access=suggested) (help) - ^ "A.T.C. Shield final in Leeds". Yorkshire Post. 1 May 1945. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|subscription=ignored (|url-access=suggested) (help) - ^ "The A.T.C. must continue: its team spirit a national asset". Yorkshire Post. 7 May 1945. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|subscription=ignored (|url-access=suggested) (help) - ^ "Saturday's football results and scorers". Yorkshire Post. 16 September 1946. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|subscription=ignored (|url-access=suggested) (help) - ^ "Last night's results". Western Morning News. Plymouth. 17 September 1946. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|subscription=ignored (|url-access=suggested) (help) - ^ "Darlington: 1946/47–1988/89 & 1990/91–2009/10". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Players Database. Neil Brown. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ^ "Ken Sykes' Appearances". PoolStats. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
- ^ "Hartlepool United: 1946/47–2013/14". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Players Database. Neil Brown. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ^ "Sharks turn on the style". The Northern Echo. Darlington. 6 May 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2014.