Frederick Bunce, also known as Freddie or Frank Bunce (16 February 1938 – 9 October 1991) was an English footballer. He played as a left winger in England and later South Africa. He briefly returned to England as a coach, but then emigrated to Australia, where he spent the remainder of his life.

Career

Born in Bushey

Bushey

Bushey is a town in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire in the East of England. Bushey Heath is situated to the south east of Bushey on the boundary with the London Borough of Harrow.-History:...

, Bunce grew up in the local area, representing Hertfordshire as a schoolboy. He joined Watford as an amateur in September 1955, turning professional later in the year. His first competitive appearance came on 22 October 1955, in a 2–0 Football League Third Division South

Football League Third Division South

The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....

 defeat at Southampton

Southampton F.C.

Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...

. Bunce's first goal came three days later, in a Southern Floodlit Cup fixture against Aldershot Town

Aldershot Town F.C.

Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...

, and his first Football League goal on 29 October against Shrewsbury Town

Shrewsbury Town F.C.

Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...

. Despite this early form, Bunce's appearances in his first three seasons at Watford were limited; he made twelve in 1955–56, two in 1956–57, and none in 1957–58. Nonetheless, during this period Bunce became the first Watford player to play for England

England national football team

The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...

 at youth level since Fred Fayers

Fred Fayers

Frederick L. "Fred" or "Tiny" Fayers was an English footballer. He was born in King's Lynn, Norfolk, and died in Huddersfield, Yorkshire. A central defender or right half, Fayers played at amateur level for Northern Nomads, St Albans City, Watford and Huddersfield Town. He turned professional six...

 in 1910.

Bunce established himself as a frequent member of the first team squad in 1958–59, making 26 appearances in all competitions. He followed this up with 32 appearances in 1959–60, as Watford secured promotion from the Fourth Division

Football League Fourth Division

The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...

. After missing the first three games of the following season, Bunce scored his first career hat-trick

Hat-trick

A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...

, in a 6–1 win over Brentford

Brentford F.C.

Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....

 at Vicarage Road

Vicarage Road

Vicarage Road, a stadium in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, is the home of the football club Watford and their tenants, the Saracens rugby union club. An all-seater stadium, its current capacity is 17,477.-History:...

 on 30 August 1960. He played in all of Watford's remaining league games, finishing the season with 16 goals from 43 appearances. The club finished the season in 4th position, at the time their highest ever Football League placing. He followed this up with 11 goals from 51 appearances in 1961–62. After making seven appearances in the first four months of the following season, Bunce transferred to Cambridge United

Cambridge United F.C.

Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...

, and shortly afterwards also played for their rivals, Cambridge City

Cambridge City F.C.

Cambridge City Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:The club was founded in 1908 Cambridge Town F.C., as Cambridge had not been granted city status at that point, and were committed to amateur sport...

.

Bunce emigrated to South Africa in February 1964, joining Highlands Park

Highlands Park FC

Highlands Park F.C. was an association football club in Johannesburg , that existed from November 1959 to February 1983. In 1971, Highlands Park FC merged together with Powerlines FC from Nigel -a city located 61 km southeast of Highlands North in Johannesburg, and also playing in the top...

. His one season there was successful, as the club won the National Football League

National Football League (South Africa)

The National Football League was the first professional association football league in South Africa. It was established in 1959, and was accompanied by a NFL Division II and NFL Division III in 1961 . The league was competitive during the apartheid era, and only white players were allowed to...

. He then spent two years at Germiston Callies

Germiston Callies F.C.

Germiston Callies was a South African football club based in Germiston. Founded by Scottish immigrants in 1906.The clubs original full name was Germiston Caledonian Society Amateur Football Club, the name was changed when the club turned professional in 1959...

, before returning to England to coach Bedford Town

Bedford Town F.C.

Bedford Town F.C. is an English football club based in the Borough of Bedford. The club are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division and play at The New Eyrie in Cardington, a parish on the outskirts of Bedford....

in 1967. By 1969 he had emigrated to Australia, where he played for Whilmena and Ringwood. He remained in the country after his retirement as a player, coaching youth players. Bunce died on 9 October 1991, aged 53.