2002 - Jeff Astle, one of Albion's all-time greats, dies at the age of
59. The former England international collapsed at his daughter's home and was
taken to Queen's Hospital, Burton upon Trent, where he died. Astle scored 174
goals in 361 appearances for the Baggies after joining from Notts County in
September 1964.
1998 - Norwegian trialist
Ove Jørstad
plays in the reserves' 2-0 defeat at Leicester City.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
(Click on game to view)
2008 - Albion 3-3 Cardiff City - League Championship - The Hawthorns
BIRTHS
1891 - Bobby McNeal
County Durham-born Bobby McNeal joined Albion in the summer of 1910 having
previously played for his village side Hobson Wanderers. After switching to
left-half from inside-left, McNeal would go on to become a vital figure and a
virtual ever-present for the Baggies up until his retirement due to a knee
injury at the end of the 1924/25 season. During his 15 years with the club he
collected four medals - Second Division champion 1910/11; FA Cup runner-up 1912;
First Division champion 1919/20 and Charity Shield winner 1919/20. He also
gained two England caps whilst with Albion and represented the Football League
five times. McNeal, who made 403 first team appearances for the Baggies, guested
for Fulham, Middlesbrough, Notts County and Port Vale during the First World
War. After hanging up his boots he had a short spell as coach at The Hawthorns
before becoming a publican. He died in West Bromwich in May 1956 at the age of
65.
(Some sources give McNeal's date of birth as January 15, 1891)
1882 - Charles Bradley
The locally-born inside-right joined Albion in February 1905 but made just three
appearances in an eight week spell at the club. He had previously played local
amateur football and on leaving the Baggies returned to the non-league scene
with Dudley Town. Bradley remained local after retiring from playing in 1908 and
became an engineer. He is reported to have died in Birmingham in 1949.
(Both birth and death dates are unconfirmed)
1860 - Harry Green
One of the club's earliest players, West Bromwich-born
Harry Green joined Albion in June 1881 after previously playing for his
employers George Salter's. The full-back would spend 10 years with the Baggies,
appearing in the 1886, 1887 and 1888 FA Cup finals as well as playing in the
club's first ever league match against Stoke in September 1888. He left Albion
in May 1891 and spent a year with Old Hill Wanderers before retiring through
injury. It is believed he died in his hometown in May 1900 at the age of 40.
(Both birth and death dates are unconfirmed)
DEATHS
2002 - Jeff Astle
The man who would come to be known as 'The King', was born in Eastwood,
Nottingham, on May 13 1942. He started his career with Notts County as an
amateur in 1957 before turning professional in 1960. He built a solid reputation
for himself at Meadow Lane and was interesting the attentions of a number of
clubs when Jimmy Hagan's Albion made a £22,500 move for him in September 1964.
He quickly became an integral part of the Albion team and was a key figure
during the club's cup successes in the mid and late 1960s. His club form earned
him international recognition with England for whom he appeared in the 1970
World Cup in Mexico. In May 1974, after almost ten years with the club, in which
he scored 174 goals in 361 appearances, he left for South African side Hellenic
FC. His time in South Africa was short however and two months later he returned
to England and signed for non-league Dunstable. Spells at Weymouth, Atherstone
and Hillingdon Borough followed before he finally hung up his boots in May 1977.
He left football to set up an industrial cleaning business but would return to
The Hawthorns during the mid-1980's to help run the club's lottery scheme. Astle
would find further and unexpected fame during the 1990s when he became a regular
on the television show Fantasy Football League hosted by David Baddiel and
Baggies' fan Frank Skinner. He would close the show singing, usually whilst
dressed up as someone or something connected to that week's show. On January 19,
2002, and much to the shock of many of his fans who hadn't realised he was ill,
Astle
collapsed at his daughter's home and was taken to Queen's Hospital, Burton
upon Trent, where he died at the relatively young age of 59. It was later
revealed that the cause of his death was attributed to brain damage caused by
repeatedly heading footballs. In 2014 the Astle family launched a campaign to
force the Football Association to acknowledge the reason behind Astle's death and also to ensure
research is undertaken into the risks associated with heading a ball and
concussion in football.
DEBUTS
None known.
FAREWELLS
1931 - George Ashmore v Charlton Athletic, Villa Park, FA Cup
TRANSFERS
2005 - Former Liverpool winger Bernard Diomède
joins Albion for training.
2001 - Albion's young striker Justin
Richards joins Bristol Rovers in a deal worth a reported £150,000, rising to
£250,000 dependent on clauses being met.
RESULTS
Click on an opponent for full match details
where available.
Opposition goalscorers
in italics, * signifies scorer unknown.
