NEWS, NOTES & MILESTONES

BIRTHS

1936 - Ray Potter

Kent-born Ray Potter began his playing career with his home-town side Beckenham Town as a youth player in 1951. After a brief spell at Millwall, the young goalkeeper joined Crystal Palace as an amateur in July 1952 before turning professional the following year. He made his league debut for Palace in April 1954 in a Third Division South game at Leyton Orient and went on to make 49 appearances for the London side before leaving to join Albion in June 1958.

His first appearance for the Baggies came in October 1958 in a 2-1 win over West Ham United at The Hawthorns. He became pretty much a first team regular for Albion over the next nine years and made 238 appearances for the club, which included appearances in both legs of the 1966 League Cup Final. The arrival of John Osborne saw Potter fade away from Albion’s first team picture and in May 1967 he left to join Portsmouth. He made just five appearances in three seasons for Pompey and retired from playing in the Summer of 1970. After leaving Portsmouth he had spells in the commercial departments of Colchester United and Bournemouth before he returned to Portsmouth in an administration role. Potter, who also featured in well over 100 reserve games for the Baggies, died whilst holidaying, on August 7, 2005, at the age of 69.

1908 - Harold Pearson

Harold Pearson signed for Albion as an amateur in April 1925, turning professional shortly after. His first year at The Hawthorns saw him on the club’s books along with his father, fellow goalkeeper Hubert. The Tamworth-born player made his Albion debut in December 1927 in a Second Division fixture against South Shields at The Hawthorns. He spent 12 years with Albion, making 303 first team appearances for the club and during his time with the Baggies he won an FA Cup winners’ medal in 1931 and was also capped once by England - his cap coming against Scotland at Wembley in 1932.

He left The Hawthorns for Millwall in August 1937 and made 45 appearances in two seasons for the Lions before ‘guesting’ for West Ham United during the 1939/40 season. After hanging up his boots Pearson returned to Albion as a coach, and then a scout, before leaving football to work in a local iron foundry. Pearson continued to live in West Bromwich until his death on November 1, 1994, at the age of 86.

1876 - Bill Ford

Scotsman Billy Ford joined Albion from Dundee in June 1896 but his stay at The Hawthorns was a short one, leaving just six months later for Hereford Thistle after making twelve appearances and scoring one goal for the Baggies. After leaving Thistle in 1897 the striker had spells at New Brompton, Luton Town, Gravesend United and Chatham before retiring in 1902. Ford died at the age of 71 in his home city of Dundee on February 21, 1948.

DEATHS

None known.

DEBUTS

1983 - Gary Robson (as substitute) v Southampton, The Hawthorns, First Division

1927 - Jimmy Poxton v Manchester United, The Hawthorns, First Division
 

FAREWELLS

2014 - Diego Lugano & Steven Reid v Sunderland, Stadium of Light, Premier League

2013 - Gabriel Tamaș v Manchester City, Etihad Stadium, Premier League

2006 - Nwankwo Kanu, Tomasz Kuszczak & Williams Martinez v Everton, Goodison Park, Premier League

2000 - Mickey Evans (as substitute), Sean Flynn & Georges Santos v Charlton Athletic, The Hawthorns, League Division One

1995 - Darren Bradley (as substitute) & Gary Strodder v Sunderland, Roker Park, League Division One

1988 - Barry Cowdrill & Steve Lynex (as substitute) v Barnsley, The Hawthorns, Second Division

1963 - Ron Bradley v Everton, The Hawthorns, First Division

1938 - Harry Baldwin v Middlesbrough, Ayresome Park, First Division

1927 - Bill Ashurst & Stan Davies v Manchester United, The Hawthorns, First Division

TRANSFERS

1901 - Dan Nurse joins Albion from Black Country rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers for a fee of £75.

RESULTS