STAN RICKABY
1924 - 2014

Stockton-on-Tees born Stan Rickaby started his playing career in his native north-east with Northern League side South Bank FC but the young right-back was destined for greater things, leaving the 'Bankers' to sign amateur forms with Middlesbrough in July 1941. He made his first team debut the following year in a Wartime League game against Newcastle United at St James' Park but it would be another four years before Stan signed his first professional deal with the club, his playing career put on hold due to the Second World War. Stan, like many men of his generation, saw action during the War and took part in the Normandy beach landings of June 1944.

Following the end of hostilities in 1945, Stan returned to Middlesbrough to re-start his football career but he would have to wait until March 1948 before he finally made his league debut for Boro, his first appearance coming in a 1-1 draw with Derby County in a First Division clash at Ayresome Park. He finished the 1947/48 season with six appearances to his name but it was a false dawn for his hopes of gaining a regular first team place, he would make just four more appearances during the following two seasons.

Despite his lack of regular first team football at Ayresome Park, Albion's scouting system spotted Stan's potential and in February 1950 the Baggies paid £7,500 to sign the 25 year old, initially as back up to regular right-back Jimmy Pemberton. The player himself later admitted he wasn't keen to make the move, preferring to stay in the north-east - Sunderland were also rumoured to be interested in signing him.

He made his Albion debut on the final day of the 1949/50 season in a goalless draw with Manchester City at The Hawthorns, it would be the first of 205 appearances he would make for the Baggies.

Albion's opening game of the 1950/51 season - a 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa at Villa Park, saw the familiar figure of Pemberton starting at right-back but due to an injury suffered during the game it would be the last time he would ever play for the club. With his main competition for the right-back berth injured, Stan started the club's next game away at Newcastle United and made the position his own, going on to make 143 consecutive league appearances before his ever-present run came to an end due to injury in November 1953, shortly after winning his one and only England cap against Ireland at Goodison Park.

Stan was an integral part of Albion's great 1953/54 side but suffered a huge blow in the club's FA Cup semi-final against Port Vale at Villa Park. Whilst the Baggies ran out 2-1 winners thanks to goals from Allen and Dudley, Stan picked up an injury that would see him miss the rest of the season including the FA Cup Final win over Tom Finney's Preston North End at Wembley. Happily, having played in all of the previous rounds, Stan, along with injured goalkeeper Norman Heath, was awarded a winners' medal.

He would depart The Hawthorns just 12 months later, sadly, it was reportedly not on 'good terms'. His last appearance for the club came in a 3-3 draw with Sheffield United at The Hawthorns in March 1955.

The summer of that year saw Stan named as player-manager of non-league Poole Town, he would spend five years in the role before signing for Poole's near rivals Weymouth. He finished his playing career with a short spell at Newton Abbot Spurs before finally hanging up his boots in July 1964.

Following the end of his playing career he originally moved into accountancy but in 1969 would emigrate to Australia, where he would live until his death last month at the age of 89.

Stan, who at the time of his death was one of Albion's, and indeed England's, oldest surviving players, had his autobiography 'Upover and Downunder' published in 2003.