Jeff Astle
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey "The King" Astle (13 May 1942 – 19 January 2002) was an English footballer
. He played 361 games for West Bromwich Albion
, scoring 174 goals, and was one of the most iconic players in the history of the club. He also won five caps for England
, but did not score any goals.
He was an iconic figure among Albion fans, who nicknamed him 'The King'.
(in the same street, or so he claimed, as D. H. Lawrence
), Astle turned professional with Notts County F.C.
when he was 17. His style was that of a classic centre forward; he was a protegé of the great Tommy Lawton
. In 1964 he signed for West Brom for a fee of £
25,000. Of his 174 goals for the Baggies, the most notable was probably the only goal in the 1968 FA Cup final, with which he completed the feat of scoring in every round of the competition.
Two years later, Astle scored in Albion's 2-1 defeat by Manchester City in the League Cup final, becoming the first player to score in the finals of both of the major English cup competitions at Wembley. He had already scored in the first leg of the 1966 League Cup Final four years previously, however that was at West Ham United's Boleyn Ground
.
At the height of Astle's Albion career - some say on the evening of the 1968 FA Cup Final triumph - the words "ASTLE IS THE KING" appeared in large white letters on the brickwork of Primrose Bridge, which carries Cradley Road over a canal in Netherton
, in the heart of the Black Country
. The bridge quickly became known locally as "the Astle Bridge". When the council removed the letters, they re-appeared a few days later. Following Astle's death in 2002, a campaign was launched to have the bridge officially named in his honour, but this has so far been rejected over fears of vandal attacks by supporters of rival teams, as the area also has a high percentage of Aston Villa
and Wolverhampton Wanderers
fans.
In 1969–1970
Astle was the leading scorer in Division One
with 25 goals. In 1970, he was called up to the England squad
for the World Cup finals tournament in Mexico
. He won the first of his five caps, as a substitute, when England were a goal down against eventual champions Brazil
. Many English supporters will remember his missing a relatively easy scoring chance that could have turned the outcome of the tournament in England's favour. Astle himself, in his characteristic self-effacing way, would in later years turn this famous mistake into the punchline of a rather ribald anecdote.
In subsequent years his fitness deteriorated through repeated injuries, and in 1974 he left Albion to join the South Africa
n club Hellenic. His final bow came with a brief spell at the English non-league side Dunstable Town F.C.
, where he teamed up with the legendary former Manchester United
star George Best
.
After his retirement Astle launched an industrial cleaning business, working around the Burton upon Trent
area; latterly he also made TV
comedy appearances with Frank Skinner
and David Baddiel
on Fantasy Football League
.
On 19 January 2002 Astle collapsed at his daughter's home and was taken to Queen's Hospital Burton upon Trent
, where he died, aged 59. The cause of death was a degenerative brain
disease; failing mental ability had first become apparent as much as five years earlier. He had been an exceptional header of the ball, and the coroner
found that the repeated minor trauma
had been the cause of his death. (The leather footballs used in Astle's playing days were considerably heavier than the plastic ones of today, especially when wet). A verdict of death by industrial injury was recorded.
On the day after his death, West Bromwich Albion held a minute's silence in honour of Astle, prior to their home match against Walsall
. Albion striker Jason Roberts
scored the only goal of the game and celebrated by removing his jersey to reveal a t-shirt bearing Astle's image.
His funeral in Derbyshire was attended by hundreds of football fans. Fantasy Football League returned for a number of special editions after Astle's death; the first programme being preceded by a minute's silence, in the style of those held at football matches. In November 2002, Astle's widow Lorraine said that she would take legal action over his death.
Astle had been worshipped as a hero by the Albion fans, who would often sing (to the tune of Camptown Races
):
"Astle is the king, Astle is the king, the Brummie Roaders sing this song, Astle is the king".
The chant is still heard at the Hawthorns
to this day. Following his death, a campaign was launched to fund a set of gates dedicated to his memory at the ground (see picture above). The gates, which are situated on the Birmingham Road, close to the Woodman Corner, were unveiled on 11 July 2003. In April 2003 Astle became the first person to have a Midland Metro
tram
named after him.
In 2004 he was named as one of West Bromwich Albion's 16 greatest players, in a poll organised as part of the club's 125th anniversary celebrations. Astle was also voted as one of Albion's five "FA Cup
heroes", receiving the most votes for a striker in the poll organised by the club's official website in 2006.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. He played 361 games for West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, scoring 174 goals, and was one of the most iconic players in the history of the club. He also won five caps 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...
, but did not score any goals.
He was an iconic figure among Albion fans, who nicknamed him 'The King'.
Football career
Born in Eastwood, NottinghamshireEastwood, Nottinghamshire
Eastwood is a former coal mining town in the Broxtowe district of Nottinghamshire, England. With a population of over 18,000, it is northwest of Nottingham, and northeast of Derby, on the border between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Mentioned in Domesday Book, it expanded rapidly during the...
(in the same street, or so he claimed, as D. H. Lawrence
D. H. Lawrence
David Herbert Richards Lawrence was an English novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, literary critic and painter who published as D. H. Lawrence. His collected works represent an extended reflection upon the dehumanising effects of modernity and industrialisation...
), Astle turned professional with Notts County F.C.
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
when he was 17. His style was that of a classic centre forward; he was a protegé of the great Tommy Lawton
Tommy Lawton
Thomas "Tommy" Lawton was an English association footballer who rose to fame a short time before the outbreak of the Second World War and enjoyed a successful career which lasted until well into the 1950s....
. In 1964 he signed for West Brom for a fee of £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
25,000. Of his 174 goals for the Baggies, the most notable was probably the only goal in the 1968 FA Cup final, with which he completed the feat of scoring in every round of the competition.
Two years later, Astle scored in Albion's 2-1 defeat by Manchester City in the League Cup final, becoming the first player to score in the finals of both of the major English cup competitions at Wembley. He had already scored in the first leg of the 1966 League Cup Final four years previously, however that was at West Ham United's Boleyn Ground
Boleyn Ground
The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...
.
At the height of Astle's Albion career - some say on the evening of the 1968 FA Cup Final triumph - the words "ASTLE IS THE KING" appeared in large white letters on the brickwork of Primrose Bridge, which carries Cradley Road over a canal in Netherton
Netherton, West Midlands
Netherton is a town in the West Midlands within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley. It lies around south of the town of Dudley and north of Cradley Heath...
, in the heart of the Black Country
Black Country
The Black Country is a loosely defined area of the English West Midlands conurbation, to the north and west of Birmingham, and to the south and east of Wolverhampton. During the industrial revolution in the 19th century this area had become one of the most intensely industrialised in the nation...
. The bridge quickly became known locally as "the Astle Bridge". When the council removed the letters, they re-appeared a few days later. Following Astle's death in 2002, a campaign was launched to have the bridge officially named in his honour, but this has so far been rejected over fears of vandal attacks by supporters of rival teams, as the area also has a high percentage of Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
and Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
fans.
In 1969–1970
1969-70 in English football
The 1969–70 season was the 90th season of competitive football in England.-First Division:Everton won their seventh title, finishing nine points clear of Leeds United with Chelsea in third and newly promoted Derby County in fourth...
Astle was the leading scorer in Division One
Football League First Division
The 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....
with 25 goals. In 1970, he was called up to the England squad
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...
for the World Cup finals tournament in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He won the first of his five caps, as a substitute, when England were a goal down against eventual champions Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
. Many English supporters will remember his missing a relatively easy scoring chance that could have turned the outcome of the tournament in England's favour. Astle himself, in his characteristic self-effacing way, would in later years turn this famous mistake into the punchline of a rather ribald anecdote.
In subsequent years his fitness deteriorated through repeated injuries, and in 1974 he left Albion to join the South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n club Hellenic. His final bow came with a brief spell at the English non-league side Dunstable Town F.C.
Dunstable Town F.C.
Dunstable Town have always been associated with Royal Blue and White, in a number of combinations. Unlike some of the larger clubs who hold an identity with one particular pattern, Dunstable have had stripes, hoops, halves, quarters, pin stripe and plain shirts...
, where he teamed up with the legendary former 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...
star George Best
George Best
George Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
.
Retirement, death and legacy
Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, England. Its associated adjective is "Burtonian"....
area; latterly he also made TV
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
comedy appearances with Frank Skinner
Frank Skinner
Frank Skinner is a British writer, comedian and actor. He is best known for his television presenting, often alongside David Baddiel, with whom he also collaborated for the football song "Three Lions."He is a radio presenter on the Saturday morning slot on Absolute Radio.-Youth and early career...
and David Baddiel
David Baddiel
David Lionel Baddiel is an English comedian, novelist and television presenter.-Early life:Baddiel was born in New York, and moved to England when he was four months old. His father, Colin Brian Baddiel, was a Welsh research chemist with Unilever before being made redundant in the 1980s, after...
on Fantasy Football League
Fantasy Football League
Fantasy Football League is a British television programme hosted by Frank Skinner and David Baddiel. The Programme began on BBC Radio 5 and was hosted by Dominik Diamond before transferring to BBC 2, with three series being broadcast from January 1994 to May 1996...
.
On 19 January 2002 Astle collapsed at his daughter's home and was taken to Queen's Hospital Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, England. Its associated adjective is "Burtonian"....
, where he died, aged 59. The cause of death was a degenerative brain
Human brain
The human brain has the same general structure as the brains of other mammals, but is over three times larger than the brain of a typical mammal with an equivalent body size. Estimates for the number of neurons in the human brain range from 80 to 120 billion...
disease; failing mental ability had first become apparent as much as five years earlier. He had been an exceptional header of the ball, and the coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
found that the repeated minor trauma
Physical trauma
Trauma refers to "a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident." It can also be described as "a physical wound or injury, such as a fracture or blow." Major trauma can result in secondary complications such as circulatory shock, respiratory failure and death...
had been the cause of his death. (The leather footballs used in Astle's playing days were considerably heavier than the plastic ones of today, especially when wet). A verdict of death by industrial injury was recorded.
On the day after his death, West Bromwich Albion held a minute's silence in honour of Astle, prior to their home match against Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
. Albion striker Jason Roberts
Jason Roberts (footballer)
Jason Andre Davis Roberts MBE is an English-born Grenadian footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Blackburn Rovers. Born in Park Royal, London, Roberts began playing football from an early age, and spent time in the youth academies at several professional clubs, but was not...
scored the only goal of the game and celebrated by removing his jersey to reveal a t-shirt bearing Astle's image.
His funeral in Derbyshire was attended by hundreds of football fans. Fantasy Football League returned for a number of special editions after Astle's death; the first programme being preceded by a minute's silence, in the style of those held at football matches. In November 2002, Astle's widow Lorraine said that she would take legal action over his death.
Astle had been worshipped as a hero by the Albion fans, who would often sing (to the tune of Camptown Races
Camptown Races
Gwine to Run All Night, or De Camptown Races is a minstrel song by Stephen Foster . It was probably composed in Cincinnati in 1849, according to Richard Jackson, and published by F. D. Benteen of Baltimore, Maryland, in February 1850...
):
"Astle is the king, Astle is the king, the Brummie Roaders sing this song, Astle is the king".
The chant is still heard at the Hawthorns
The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns is an all-seater football stadium in West Bromwich, Sandwell, England, with a capacity of 26,484. It has been the home of West Bromwich Albion F.C. since 1900, when it became the sixth ground to be used by the club. The ground was the last Football League ground to be built in the...
to this day. Following his death, a campaign was launched to fund a set of gates dedicated to his memory at the ground (see picture above). The gates, which are situated on the Birmingham Road, close to the Woodman Corner, were unveiled on 11 July 2003. In April 2003 Astle became the first person to have a Midland Metro
Midland Metro
The Midland Metro is a light-rail or tram line in the West Midlands of England between the cities of Birmingham and Wolverhampton via West Bromwich and Wednesbury. It is owned and promoted by Centro, and operated by West Midlands Travel Limited, a subsidiary of the National Express Group , under...
tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
named after him.
In 2004 he was named as one of West Bromwich Albion's 16 greatest players, in a poll organised as part of the club's 125th anniversary celebrations. Astle was also voted as one of Albion's five "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...
heroes", receiving the most votes for a striker in the poll organised by the club's official website in 2006.