Kenneth William Nicholas (3 February 1938 – 24 March 2007) was an English sportsman, best known for his football career. After playing both football and rugby for his country at schoolboy level, Nicholas became a professional footballer. He, playing in England as a full back, then featured for Arsenal, Watford, Guildford City, Hastings United and Tonbridge as well as teams in Portugal.
.jpg) Ken Nicholas at Vale Park 1960/1961 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kenneth William Nicholas | ||
| Date of birth | 3 February 1938 | ||
| Place of birth | Northampton, England | ||
| Date of death | 24 March 2007 (aged 69) | ||
| Position(s) | Full back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1955 | Arsenal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1955–1959 | Arsenal | 0 | (0) |
| 1959–1965 | Watford | 198 | (4) |
| 1965–1966 | Guildford City | ||
| 1966–1968 | Hastings United | ||
| Tonbridge | |||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
editBorn in Northampton, Nicholas represented England's schoolboy and youth football teams, as well as its rugby schoolboys team.[1][2] He joined Football League First Division side Arsenal in 1955, but was unable to break into the team, and joined Fourth Division Watford on a free transfer in 1959.[2] By contrast to his time at Arsenal, Nicholas under the management of Ron Burgess, immediately became a first-choice starter in Watford's team. In 1959–60, his first season at Watford, Nicholas helped Watford gain promotion to the Third Division for the first time in their history.[3] Nicholas continued to play regularly for the Hornets over the following five seasons.[2]
Ken Furphy, a full back himself, became Watford's player-manager in November 1964, and the 1964–65 season proved to be Nicholas's last at Vicarage Road. Altogether in his Watford career he made 219 appearances in all competitions.[2]
In the summer of 1965 he joined Southern League side Guildford City. The following year he moved to Hastings United, and after a spell at Tonbridge, Nicholas moved to the Algarve in Portugal, where he finished his career.[2]
Personal life
editNicholas died in Blackheath on 24 March 2007 after a long illness.[1][4]
References
edit- ^ a b "Ken Nicholas passes away". Watford Football Club. 26 March 2007. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
- ^ a b c d e Jones, Trefor (1996). Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who. pp. 173, 272–273. ISBN 0-9527458-0-1.
- ^ Jones, Trefor (1998). Watford Season by Season. pp. 128–139. ISBN 0-9527458-1-X.
- ^ "Ken Nicholas". Barry Hugman's Footballers.