Former Hull City captain Paul Feasey dies at 78 (updated)
HE HAILED from a golden era of football, where fans crowded on to terracing to cheer on their heroes.
Centre-half Paul Feasey, who captained Hull City's promotion-winning team of 1958-59, has died at the age of 78 after a battle with dementia.
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GOLDEN AGE: Former Hull City defender and captain Paul Feasey in action against Swansea in December 1959.
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Paul Feasey spent 17 years with the Tigers, captaining the 58-59 promotion-winning team.
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The 1963 line-up at a snowy Boothferry Park. Paul Feasey is on the front row, (far right), with teammates, back row (from left): Brian Garvey, Dennis Butler, Maurice Swan, Chris Chilton, Les Collinson; (front) Doug Clarke, Billy Wilkinson, Andy Davidson, Ray Henderson, Alan Shaw.
He spent his entire 17-year professional career at Boothferry Park and, leading the side which were runners-up to Plymouth Argyle in the third division championship, he missed only one of their 46 games.
Mr Feasey's daughter-in- law Sue, who was married to his late son Graham, said: "Paul was Hull born and bred and extremely proud to wear the Tigers' shirt.
"I don't think he would have approved of today's game.
"After his playing days were up, he followed the club and would love watching football on Match Of The Day."
The Tigers' impressive promotion campaign was largely credited to top scorers Bill Bradbury, who netted 30 during that season, and Colin Smith.
However, the side's defence was feared by many other teams in the division.
At 5ft 8in, Mr Feasey was surprisingly small for the position, but he usually came out on top in any aerial battle.
Mr Feasey played alongside other tough tacklers of the day, including Billy Bly, Frank Harrison, Dennis Durham and Andy Davidson.
He spent his early years in York schoolboy football and was discovered in an amateur game with York Railway Institute.
He joined Hull City in August 1949 after he completed his training at York Technical College as a bricklayer.
Mr Feasey belonged to the "stay at home" centre-half school of football and never scored a goal in his 271 league games between 1953 and 1965, rarely venturing beyond his own goal area.
In 1966, Mr Feasey retired from league football and became player-manager of Goole Town, later reverting to his old trade as a bricklayer.
Mr Feasey married wife Jean in August 1954 and the couple went on to have Graham, who died in 2001, aged 44.
Mrs Feasey died in 1995 and Mr Feasey spent his final years in a residential care home before his death on January 12.
Mr Feasey's funeral will take place at 2.30pm tomorrow in the large chapel of Chanterlands Crematorium, west Hull.
* A statement released by Hull City today said the club was saddened to learn of Mr Feasey's death.
"The Hull-born defender was a key player for the Tigers during the 1950s and 1960s," the statement added. "Our thoughts are with Paul's family at this sad time."
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by bdinspain
Wednesday, January 18 2012, 4:47PM
“Further to veneztigres point, Billy Bly had brittle bones so would avoid tackles as a goalkeeper. One of the best we had. Expect better from HDM.”
by GlenluieJim
Wednesday, January 18 2012, 2:43PM
“Merlin - Mick Brown was assistant to Ron Atkinson at Man Utd. I last saw him in Kuala Lumpur when he was coaching Selangor in the Malaysian/Singapore state league as the Selangor team used the (old) Holiday Inn On The Park which is owned by the States' Sultan, who also held the Holiday Inn franchise. However, he was scouting for Man Utd for some years, and maybe still is, although he must now be in his early 70's.”
by merlin_
Wednesday, January 18 2012, 1:56PM
“James I think Eric Macmillan ended up in Beverley”
by merlin_
Wednesday, January 18 2012, 1:53PM
“Thanks for the pointers. I have read a few of the excellent books on past players but haven't read Chillo's yet. Will try and get a copy. For those who talk about our connections with Man U they pre-date Warren Joyce by a long time. Mick Brown, a former City defender was until recent years the Chief Scout at Man U. Wilf McGuinness I believe still does hospitaity there as I saw him 3 years ago at Old Trafford on a weekday afternoon. John McSeveney was doing scouting for the club about 5 or six years ago. It makes you wonder whether Deanno might be able to get involved in scouting - or a managerial career in the lower leagues to start with.”
by LanarmonTiger
Wednesday, January 18 2012, 11:23AM
“Merlin and Co...
I was fortunate to be given a copy of Chris Elton's book "Hull City A complete record 1904-1989" published by Breedon Books Sport. The book details the Hull City story, star player bios with photos, match stats, appearances, league tables, records and loads more.
Paul Feasey was "A loyal one club man". His first game was against Barnsley in 1953 though most of his appearances were during the 56/57 to 63/64 seasons. Paul played 304 matches including 271 league.”
by veneztigres
Tuesday, January 17 2012, 6:04PM
“"Mr Feasey played alongside other tough tacklers of the day, including Billy Bly, Frank Harrison, Dennis Durham and Andy Davidson"
HDM Billy Bly while extremely tough was a goalkeeper
"UP THE TIGERS"”
by Britincal2010
Tuesday, January 17 2012, 5:11PM
“As a kid I saw Paul Feasey play many times at Boothferry Park, and he always seemed to be like a rock at the heart of the Tiger's defence, great header of the ball and a ferocious tackler. Years later he played for Westella Veterans and I was privileged to play against him and other ex Tigers a couple of times. I was lucky enough to nutmeg him on one occasion and afterwards he patted me on the back and said 'well done son'. That incident has always stuck in my mind, he was tough, fair and generous as a footballer and as a person. Gone but not forgotten Paul.”
by GlenluieJim
Tuesday, January 17 2012, 4:47PM
“Merlin - Andy Davidson still lives around Hull as far as I know. Brian Garvey went to Watford - another despicable decision by the Tigers as it was reported he refused to play on a Good Friday as it a religious holiday. Fish (Bernard Fisher) went into the Prison service by all accounts and Les Collinson settled in the Hull area. Dudley Price was last heard of at Tranmere many years ago and Eric McMillan went back to London (he signed from Chelsea) according to contacts. In that same team were players like Brian Bulless, Brian Cripsey (who went to New Zealand) and the GK options included Dave Teece and Mike Williams, before Maurice Swan came in, prior to McKechnie.”
by adolfo
Tuesday, January 17 2012, 4:03PM
“Merlin.... if anecdotes of this period and beyond are interesting to you , I would suggest Chris Chilton's book 'Chillo' I believe it is still available from the sports shop, It covers obviously his life, but also an insight into the tactical preparations at the time and particularly when he played with Waggy, A great insight into what went on behind the scenes, and full of surprises!”
by merlin_
Tuesday, January 17 2012, 1:52PM
“Thanks very interesting stuff from all today. Keep 'em coming! I do remember Fisher Davidson Garvey Collinson Feasey Price and Macmillan from around that time. Chris Chilton was a whippersnapper just coming in with the team then dramatically changing under Cliff Britton. How many of those are still alive? Didn't see Mortensen play but listened to the Stanley Matthews CD which praises his play in the famous Cup Final.”