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as they had offered him a trade as a metal spinner, as well as the captaincy of the team. Coincidentally, the club already had a player who owned an engineering firm, so Haigh was able to train during the week and play for the club on the weekends. The following year, Haigh was later discharged as a
471:
In 1998, County's club historians got back in touch with Haigh (and even then, he was considered one of the oldest surviving former professional footballers). He maintained regular contact with the club, appearing as a guest of honour in 2008. In 2010, he was one of the first recipients of a
472:
Stockport County
Appearance Number certificate. He continued to watch County home and away up until after his 100th birthday, but made special appearances after that, notably in November 2018 when he unveiled a plaque at Edgley Park commemorating former players who died in
385:, where he played at all levels for County, from the A team right up to the first team. Haigh had the misfortune to score an own goal on his debut for County, and made a second league appearance before the outbreak of the
952:
468:. Haigh had been vocal about his time at Rossendale, as he was constantly undermined by the board of directors over prospective new players, so he resigned in 1952, effectively ending his career in football.
536:
982:
361:. At the age of 103, he was the oldest surviving former County player, and had been widely attributed for being the oldest surviving former professional footballer, although
827:
381:, but when Swift was promoted to the senior side, Haigh stayed where he was. During his time at City, he also worked in a dying and bleaching factory. In 1936, he joined
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412:(on probation) on 20 August. Whilst at Morecambe, he played for the services team as well as the town's
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436:. On 20 June 1942, Haigh was confirmed in the rank of pilot officer, and was promoted to
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396:, serving as a physical training instructor and was stationed at RAF Morecambe and
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646:"Meet George Haigh – the oldest surviving ex professional football player"
563:"George Haigh - The Oldest Surviving Professional Footballer In the World"
400:, where he trained new recruits and parachutists. He reached the rank of
614:"George Haigh: "I asked Stanley Matthews, 'How the hell do you do it?'""
65:
854:"103-year-old George Haigh helps County pay tribute to the fallen"
828:"OLDEST FORMER ENGLISH PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLER – GEORGE HAIGH"
739:"Stockport County Museum opened by 102-year-old George Haigh"
953:
Royal Air Force
Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II
353:(26 June 1915 – 23 April 2019) was an English professional
464:
sergeant. In 1948, he was appointed as player-manager for
377:
in 1931, as a junior. He played in the reserves alongside
565:. Stockport County F.C. 12 September 2015. Archived from
539:. Stockport County F.C. 27 February 2015. Archived from
488:
for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
455:
In 1945, he was offered the player-manager position at
408:(on probation) on 20 June 1941, and was regraded as a
428:. During wartime, he also made guest appearances for
440:(war-substantive) on 20 August. He was promoted to
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365:was one month older at the time of Haigh's death.
537:"County Legend George Haigh at Brackley tomorrow"
480:and, until at least 2015, received support from
444:(war-substantive) on 11 September 1944, and was
19:For the British botanist and ornithologist, see
772:(Supplement). 22 September 1942. p. 4169.
589:"GEORGE HAIGH: CITY'S OLDEST ACADEMY GRADUATE"
983:Royal Air Force Physical Training instructors
792:(Supplement). 28 November 1944. p. 5511.
676:"Legend George Haigh returns to Edgeley Park"
448:in 1945, ending his service with the rank of
8:
877:"A double celebration for blind RAF veteran"
28:
344:*Club domestic league appearances and goals
138:
27:
678:. Stockport County F.C. 10 September 2015
639:
637:
635:
856:. Stockport County F.C. 15 November 2018
812:(Supplement). 8 June 1945. p. 2992.
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357:, mainly known for his association with
591:. Manchester City F.C. 15 November 2018
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424:, and Haigh was usually tasked to mark
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963:Men's association football defenders
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826:Smallman, Karl (15 November 2018).
515:"Stockport County legend turns 100"
988:Military personnel from Manchester
973:Burnley F.C. wartime guest players
968:Walsall F.C. wartime guest players
875:Somerville, Hannah (9 June 2015).
14:
644:Bullin, Matt (21 November 2016).
978:Royal Air Force squadron leaders
478:age-related macular degeneration
298:
278:
726:. 22 August 1941. p. 4878.
948:Rossendale United F.C. players
737:Harrison, Paul (3 July 2017).
16:English footballer (1915–2019)
1:
958:Stockport County F.C. players
706:. 11 July 1941. p. 4002.
404:before being commissioned an
459:, but Haigh decided to join
392:In 1940, he enlisted in the
938:Lancaster City F.C. players
830:. Sol Times. Archived from
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373:Haigh's career started at
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928:English men's footballers
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923:British men centenarians
420:. Rochdale often played
21:George Henry Caton Haigh
943:Rochdale A.F.C. players
517:. PFA.com. 26 June 2015
446:mentioned in despatches
933:Morecambe F.C. players
476:. Haigh suffered from
416:, and in 1942, joined
743:South Manchester News
312:Years of service
918:English centenarians
834:on 23 September 2020
406:acting pilot officer
34:Personal information
620:. 22 September 2010
30:
809:The London Gazette
789:The London Gazette
769:The London Gazette
723:The London Gazette
703:The London Gazette
543:on 12 October 2016
569:on 9 October 2016
482:Blind Veterans UK
466:Rossendale United
442:flight lieutenant
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239:Managerial career
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402:flight sergeant
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76:23 April 2019
73:Date of death
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47:Date of birth
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884:. Retrieved
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858:. Retrieved
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836:. Retrieved
832:the original
807:
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746:. Retrieved
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680:. Retrieved
653:. Retrieved
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622:. Retrieved
618:Daily Mirror
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593:. Retrieved
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571:. Retrieved
567:the original
557:
545:. Retrieved
541:the original
531:
519:. Retrieved
470:
454:
398:RAF Wilmslow
391:
372:
363:Arthur Smith
351:George Haigh
350:
349:
334:World War II
330:Battles/wars
259:
144:
137:
132:
95:Youth career
78:(2019-04-23)
57:29 June 1915
42:George Haigh
29:George Haigh
25:
913:2019 deaths
908:1915 births
886:28 November
881:Oxford Mail
860:28 November
838:28 November
804:"No. 37119"
784:"No. 36819"
764:"No. 35717"
748:28 November
718:"No. 35254"
698:"No. 35217"
655:28 November
650:Salford Now
595:28 November
474:World War I
379:Frank Swift
89:Centre-back
85:Position(s)
902:Categories
492:References
355:footballer
274:Allegiance
53:1915-06-29
422:Blackpool
315:1940–1945
245:1948–1952
222:1948–1952
206:1945–1946
190:1942–1945
179:Morecambe
174:1940–1942
156:1938–1940
113:1936–1938
101:1931–1936
68:, England
39:Full name
457:Arbroath
418:Rochdale
292:Service/
195:Rochdale
486:charity
434:Burnley
430:Walsall
66:Reddish
573:16 May
369:Career
303:
294:branch
283:
682:7 May
624:7 May
547:7 May
521:7 May
129:Years
888:2018
862:2018
840:2018
750:2018
684:2016
657:2018
626:2016
597:2018
575:2016
549:2016
523:2016
432:and
320:Rank
139:Apps
133:Team
234:(2)
231:109
168:(0)
147:Gls
904::
879:.
818:^
806:.
786:.
766:.
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665:^
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634:^
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165:2
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145:(
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51:(
23:.
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