Fraser Digby
Encyclopedia
Fraser Charles Digby is a retired goalkeeper
who spent much of his career with Swindon Town
, for whom he played in the Premier League. In 2008, he found new fame through repeated references to "Fraser Digby's washbag" on Danny Baker
's 6-0-6 programme on BBC Radio 5 Live
.
apprentice, making his League debut whilst on loan at Oldham Athletic
in 1985, joining Swindon Town
on a free transfer in December 1986 after two loan spells.
Digby, who represented England schools, youth and U-21s, did not leave Swindon until 1998. He played in the 1993 play-off final against Leicester City
, a match Swindon won, thereby securing a place in the Premier League, and represented the club during their season at the top level of English football.
In late 1992, he returned to Manchester United on loan as cover for Peter Schmeichel
and was selected as a substitute on several occasions but never came onto the pitch.
In August 1998, Digby signed for Crystal Palace
, before moving on to Queens Park Rangers
in 2001. He was released by QPR due to money shortages after which he played a handful of games for non-league
Purfleet. He joined Kidderminster Harriers
in 2003 on a game-by-game basis (non-contractual), while at the same time rejoining former club Swindon and taking on the two roles of commercial manager and goalkeeping coach under Andy King.
Digby also played one game for Cirencester Town
in the FA Cup
in 2004, signed on an emergency deal as Cirencester had a keeper shortage, it was then known Fraser was good friends with Brian Hughes, the Cirencester Manager. The game was against Bognor Regis Town and finished 4-3 to Bognor, with Cirencester coming back from 3-0 down to 3-3 to make a thrilling finish.
Digby played for a Manchester United
legends team touring Ireland
; his last appearance was in a friendly match with Moyola Park FC in July 2008.
When Digby retired from professional football, he spoke out against the methods for earning coaching badges for goalkeepers:
comb as a memento, thus coining the phrase 'Fraser Digby's Washbag' . Baker saw that there was 'music' in these words and latched onto it. The piece, entitled "Fraser Digby's Washbag" became a regular feature of Danny Baker
's Tuesday night slot on BBC Radio 5 Live
's 6-0-6 programme In December 2008, Digby surprised Baker live on air, by appearing at the BBC studios to join the show and sang a "Fraser Digby's Washbag" song himself.
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
who spent much of his career with Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
, for whom he played in the Premier League. In 2008, he found new fame through repeated references to "Fraser Digby's washbag" on Danny Baker
Danny Baker
Danny Baker is an English comedy writer, journalist, radio DJ and screenwriter. Since the late 1970s, he has worked for a wide range of publications and broadcasters including NME, LWT, the BBC, and Talk Radio....
's 6-0-6 programme on BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
.
Playing career
Digby was a Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
apprentice, making his League debut whilst on loan at Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
in 1985, joining Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
on a free transfer in December 1986 after two loan spells.
Digby, who represented England schools, youth and U-21s, did not leave Swindon until 1998. He played in the 1993 play-off final against Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
, a match Swindon won, thereby securing a place in the Premier League, and represented the club during their season at the top level of English football.
In late 1992, he returned to Manchester United on loan as cover for Peter Schmeichel
Peter Schmeichel
Peter Bolesław Schmeichel MBE is a retired Danish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and was voted the "World's Best Goalkeeper" in 1992 and 1993...
and was selected as a substitute on several occasions but never came onto the pitch.
In August 1998, Digby signed for Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, before moving on to Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
in 2001. He was released by QPR due to money shortages after which he played a handful of games for non-league
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
Purfleet. He joined Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
in 2003 on a game-by-game basis (non-contractual), while at the same time rejoining former club Swindon and taking on the two roles of commercial manager and goalkeeping coach under Andy King.
Digby also played one game for Cirencester Town
Cirencester Town F.C.
Cirencester Town is an English football club based in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. The club are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division and play at the Corinium Stadium...
in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in 2004, signed on an emergency deal as Cirencester had a keeper shortage, it was then known Fraser was good friends with Brian Hughes, the Cirencester Manager. The game was against Bognor Regis Town and finished 4-3 to Bognor, with Cirencester coming back from 3-0 down to 3-3 to make a thrilling finish.
Digby played for a Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
legends team touring Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
; his last appearance was in a friendly match with Moyola Park FC in July 2008.
When Digby retired from professional football, he spoke out against the methods for earning coaching badges for goalkeepers:
The problem is that to obtain full goalkeeping coaching qualifications, you have to go through all the stuff for outfield players and I don't really want to do that.
Danny Baker on BBC Radio 5 Live
Digby has recently been the subject of many adaptations of popular songs, with lyrics written after a story from an anonymous correspondent to Danny Baker's radio show. It emerged that during a tour of Swindon Town's football ground, someone had come across Digby's washbag in the changing room and taken a tortoiseshellTortoiseshell material
Tortoiseshell or tortoise shell is a material produced mainly from the shell of the hawksbill turtle, an endangered species. It was widely used in the 1960s and 1970s in the manufacture of items such as combs, sunglasses, guitar picks and knitting needles...
comb as a memento, thus coining the phrase 'Fraser Digby's Washbag' . Baker saw that there was 'music' in these words and latched onto it. The piece, entitled "Fraser Digby's Washbag" became a regular feature of Danny Baker
Danny Baker
Danny Baker is an English comedy writer, journalist, radio DJ and screenwriter. Since the late 1970s, he has worked for a wide range of publications and broadcasters including NME, LWT, the BBC, and Talk Radio....
's Tuesday night slot on BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
's 6-0-6 programme In December 2008, Digby surprised Baker live on air, by appearing at the BBC studios to join the show and sang a "Fraser Digby's Washbag" song himself.
Club history
- 25 April 1985 - 25 March 1986 Manchester Utd (Apprentice)
- 30 December 1985 - Oldham (loan)
- 27 March 1986 - 24 April 1986 - Swindon Town (loan)
- 25 September 1986 - Swindon Town (loan)
- 23 December 1986 - Swindon Town (£32,000)
- 4 November 1992 - 30 December 1992 - Manchester United (loan)
- 1 August 1998 - 18 August 2001 - Crystal Palace (free)
- 18 August 2001 - 11 October 2001 - Huddersfield (free)
- 11 October 2001 - 5 January 2003 - QPR (free)
- 31 January 2003 - 11 April 2003 - Kidderminster Harriers (free)
Honours
Swindon Town F.C.Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
- Division 3 Play-Off FinalFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
Winner 1987 - Division 2 Play-Off FinalFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
Winner 1990 (Club later demoted) - Division 1 Play-Off FinalFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
Winner 19931993 Football League First Division play-off FinalThe 1993 Football League First Division play-off Final was contested by Swindon Town and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium, London. Swindon Town won the match 4–3, despite Leicester coming back from 3–0 down.... - Division 2Football League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
Champions 1995/96