Good-bye 'Sandy' Harris
Alexander (Sandy) Harris 1934-2014
Gerry Wolstenholme
Sandy Harris was born in Hong Kong on 22 October 1934 (his father was in the Hong Kong police) and was an attacking outside right who was signed by Blackpool from Newburgh FC as an amateur in May 1951, signing as a professional on 16 November 1951. Blackpool gave Newburgh FC a donation of £50 in February 1952 in recognition of his signing for the Seasiders.
He made his Central League debut for Blackpool against Manchester United reserves on 8 March 1952 when Blackpool lost 3-0 and he later 'showed great promise' in Blackpool ‘B’ side’s 4-0 win over Rochdale on 3 May 1952. He finished his first season with the club having played in seven Central League games.
In his first Central League appearance of the 1952/53 season against Sheffield United reserves on 27 September 1952 he scored his first senior goal in Blackpool’s 4-0 victory. He was playing regularly in the junior sides and he had a busy day on 29 November 1952; he played for the Youth team against Everton in the morning and for the Central League side against Sheffield Wednesday reserves in the afternoon. He was fortunate that he did not have to leave the dressing room for both games were at Bloomfield Road; Blackpool won the second game 2-0.
As one of two understudies to Stan Matthews (Albert Hobson was the other at this time), his first team opportunities were severely restricted but when the maestro was missing on 3 March 1953 he made his League debut against Burnley when Blackpool won 1-0 with a goal from Bill Perry. He also deputised for Matthews in a 1-1 draw against Stoke City on 15 April 1953 so he played two League games in the 1952/53 season; he also played 11 Central League games, in which he scored four goals,.
His chances of first team football were similarly restricted in the 1953/54 season and he played in only five League games as Matthews and Hobson shared the remaining games on the right wing. Once again he played Central League football, appearing in 14 games and scoring three goals,.
In the 1954/55 season he made his only senior appearance for the club at outside left when he replaced Perry in a 1-0 victory over Burnley when Stan Mortensen scored the only goal of the game. He also played in the junior sides and made 14 Central League appearances, in which he scored four goals.
A call up to fulfil his National Service in the RAF on 8 December 1955 prevented him being a Blackpool regular in the 1955/56 season and he played in just one League game, the last of the season, a 2-1 defeat by Chelsea. He was, however, able to appear in 16 Central League games, scoring six goals. Whilst in the RAF he gained RAF representative honours in the 1956/57 season.
Whilst he was away, Blackpool signed Irish international Johnny McKenna as another Matthews' understudy so Harris once again had to take a back seat. But he did score his first goal in league football in his 14th League game, against Manchester City in a 4 1 win on 9 February 1957 and he finished the 1956/57 season having played in six League games, scoring one goal, and 12 Central League games, scoring three goals.
However, he did score one classic goal in a post-season friendly game against the mighty Barcelona in May 1957 when he scored the equalising goal in a 3-3 draw … and it was from a header, not something that Sandy was renown for. He told me in later life that he remembered it well for it was the only headed goal that he ever scored, adding, 'I just closed my eyes bent my head and the next thing I knew my team-mates were jumping all over me for the ball had ended up in the top corner of the net'.
Blackpool gave him a modest wage increase for the 1957/58 season when his weekly wage was £11 in the summer and £13 in the winter with an extra £7 if and when he played in the first team.
He was reintroduced to the League side replacing Matthews, who had a cold, against Portsmouth on 30 November 1957 and he scored what turned out to be the winning goal in the 42nd minute. The goal came about when 'Hugh Kelly lofted the ball into this open space [in the middle of the defence] with perfect judgement. Mudie ran on to it, missed it and was still sprawling as the ball flew past him to Sandy Harris who followed it into the net almost under the bar.' He 'did some good things on the wing, although in the second half he was not in the picture much' as Blackpool won the game 2-1. Despite his success, he played in only six League games, scoring two goals, in the 1957/58 season in which he also played 20 Central League games, scoring one goal.
He was plagued by injury in the 1958/59 season and then a simple training accident threatened to ruin his career in January 1959. A specialist said, 'Although you have not completely severed the ligaments, they are badly torn.' Harris commented 'He has warned me that I must take extreme care in the next few days. If I damage the knee any further it will need an operation.' The trouble apparently started in May 1958 when, on the way to see his mother in Scotland, he was involved in a serious car accident. At the time he had received his inoculations for the Blackpool trip to Australia in the summer of 1958 and he had asked permission to visit his parents. Permission was granted but near Perth an articulated lorry burst a tyre and hit his stationary car. Five injuries to the same knee in 12 months did not help matters 'It’s no joke,' said Harris, who consequently missed the trip to Australia.
The injury did, indeed, end his career and he played no further senior football for the club. Because of this he was given a free transfer on 30 June 1959 having played 21 League games, scoring four goals, and 94 Central League games, scoring 21 goals in his eight-year stay at Bloomfield Road. Sadly his injury meant that he would not play first class football again.
He later became a publican in Rishton, Lancashire, the town in which he passed away on 12 December 2014. He was a gentleman, regularly supporting functions at Blackpool, and he will be sorely missed by family and friends alike. Rest in peace Sandy.
Gerry Wolstenholme
Sandy Harris was born in Hong Kong on 22 October 1934 (his father was in the Hong Kong police) and was an attacking outside right who was signed by Blackpool from Newburgh FC as an amateur in May 1951, signing as a professional on 16 November 1951. Blackpool gave Newburgh FC a donation of £50 in February 1952 in recognition of his signing for the Seasiders.
He made his Central League debut for Blackpool against Manchester United reserves on 8 March 1952 when Blackpool lost 3-0 and he later 'showed great promise' in Blackpool ‘B’ side’s 4-0 win over Rochdale on 3 May 1952. He finished his first season with the club having played in seven Central League games.
In his first Central League appearance of the 1952/53 season against Sheffield United reserves on 27 September 1952 he scored his first senior goal in Blackpool’s 4-0 victory. He was playing regularly in the junior sides and he had a busy day on 29 November 1952; he played for the Youth team against Everton in the morning and for the Central League side against Sheffield Wednesday reserves in the afternoon. He was fortunate that he did not have to leave the dressing room for both games were at Bloomfield Road; Blackpool won the second game 2-0.
As one of two understudies to Stan Matthews (Albert Hobson was the other at this time), his first team opportunities were severely restricted but when the maestro was missing on 3 March 1953 he made his League debut against Burnley when Blackpool won 1-0 with a goal from Bill Perry. He also deputised for Matthews in a 1-1 draw against Stoke City on 15 April 1953 so he played two League games in the 1952/53 season; he also played 11 Central League games, in which he scored four goals,.
His chances of first team football were similarly restricted in the 1953/54 season and he played in only five League games as Matthews and Hobson shared the remaining games on the right wing. Once again he played Central League football, appearing in 14 games and scoring three goals,.
In the 1954/55 season he made his only senior appearance for the club at outside left when he replaced Perry in a 1-0 victory over Burnley when Stan Mortensen scored the only goal of the game. He also played in the junior sides and made 14 Central League appearances, in which he scored four goals.
A call up to fulfil his National Service in the RAF on 8 December 1955 prevented him being a Blackpool regular in the 1955/56 season and he played in just one League game, the last of the season, a 2-1 defeat by Chelsea. He was, however, able to appear in 16 Central League games, scoring six goals. Whilst in the RAF he gained RAF representative honours in the 1956/57 season.
Whilst he was away, Blackpool signed Irish international Johnny McKenna as another Matthews' understudy so Harris once again had to take a back seat. But he did score his first goal in league football in his 14th League game, against Manchester City in a 4 1 win on 9 February 1957 and he finished the 1956/57 season having played in six League games, scoring one goal, and 12 Central League games, scoring three goals.
However, he did score one classic goal in a post-season friendly game against the mighty Barcelona in May 1957 when he scored the equalising goal in a 3-3 draw … and it was from a header, not something that Sandy was renown for. He told me in later life that he remembered it well for it was the only headed goal that he ever scored, adding, 'I just closed my eyes bent my head and the next thing I knew my team-mates were jumping all over me for the ball had ended up in the top corner of the net'.
Blackpool gave him a modest wage increase for the 1957/58 season when his weekly wage was £11 in the summer and £13 in the winter with an extra £7 if and when he played in the first team.
He was reintroduced to the League side replacing Matthews, who had a cold, against Portsmouth on 30 November 1957 and he scored what turned out to be the winning goal in the 42nd minute. The goal came about when 'Hugh Kelly lofted the ball into this open space [in the middle of the defence] with perfect judgement. Mudie ran on to it, missed it and was still sprawling as the ball flew past him to Sandy Harris who followed it into the net almost under the bar.' He 'did some good things on the wing, although in the second half he was not in the picture much' as Blackpool won the game 2-1. Despite his success, he played in only six League games, scoring two goals, in the 1957/58 season in which he also played 20 Central League games, scoring one goal.
He was plagued by injury in the 1958/59 season and then a simple training accident threatened to ruin his career in January 1959. A specialist said, 'Although you have not completely severed the ligaments, they are badly torn.' Harris commented 'He has warned me that I must take extreme care in the next few days. If I damage the knee any further it will need an operation.' The trouble apparently started in May 1958 when, on the way to see his mother in Scotland, he was involved in a serious car accident. At the time he had received his inoculations for the Blackpool trip to Australia in the summer of 1958 and he had asked permission to visit his parents. Permission was granted but near Perth an articulated lorry burst a tyre and hit his stationary car. Five injuries to the same knee in 12 months did not help matters 'It’s no joke,' said Harris, who consequently missed the trip to Australia.
The injury did, indeed, end his career and he played no further senior football for the club. Because of this he was given a free transfer on 30 June 1959 having played 21 League games, scoring four goals, and 94 Central League games, scoring 21 goals in his eight-year stay at Bloomfield Road. Sadly his injury meant that he would not play first class football again.
He later became a publican in Rishton, Lancashire, the town in which he passed away on 12 December 2014. He was a gentleman, regularly supporting functions at Blackpool, and he will be sorely missed by family and friends alike. Rest in peace Sandy.
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Dear JulieI am so pleased to have heard from you and thank you for taking the trouble to make contact.
I used to meet up with Sandy at various times in Blackpool when he came over and we would reminisce over times gone by. Indeed the first time I spoke to him many years ago was on the 'phone when I was at the club. He had rang for something and typical of Blackpool Football Club at the time, when he said he had played for them they didn't know him but said that there was someone there who probably would.
They came to me and said there's a chap called Harris on the 'phone says he used to play here will you have a word with him. I picked the 'phone up and said, 'Is that Sandy Harris, the good looking, flying right winger that I used to watch as a schoolboy down at Bloomfield Road?' Of course we quickly got into conversation and our friendship developed from there.
I realise how sad it is to lose your Dad so I understand your sentiments and I can well imagine he will be sorely missed for he was a great character. And I hope that my daughter says 'I have so many fantastic memories of my life with him' when anything happens to me because it is a lovely thought.
Bye for now and take care and keep basking in those memories.
Gerry
xxx
thank you again Gerry for your time to write this it means a lot at this sad time.
His eldest and only Daughter Julie ( Harris) x