Bill Perry

Oct 3 2007 by David Charters, Liverpool Daily Post

DEEP in the heart of the legendary Blowick end huddled the club’s die-hard supporters whose enthusiasm for football had long been tempered by a sense of grey reality.

Sipping their beef tea, they mused on the prospects of the new man on the sacred turf as the rain blew in.

For this man was a real star, one of the most famous footballers in England.

Even the local press broke out of its traditional reserve to declare, “The classiest forward seen at Haig Avenue in years”.

It was the 1962/63 season and Southport were languishing in the Fourth Division.

Bill Perry signed for the Sandgrounders (Southport) for £3,500 after his glorious career at Blackpool which had reached its climax in what remains the greatest FA Cup Final.

With 20 minutes to go on that May afternoon in 1953, Blackpool had been trailing Bolton Wanderers 3-1. But, amid the sweat and drama of one of the finest occasions in Lancashire’s history, Stan Mortensen completed his hat-trick to level the scores.

And then the jinxing veteran Stan Matthews outfoxed two defenders to cross from the right to the advancing Perry, who shot low and hard into the net.

Tangerine scarves were raised high in salute, as rattles cracked out the rhythms of triumph. All that remained was for the players to collect their medals from the young Queen.

Perry was raised in Johannesburg and by the time he left school at 16 was a left-footed footballer of pace, skill and strength.

His potential was spotted while he was playing for Johannesburg Rangers. He declined an offer to join Charlton Athletic, but a year later accepted terms at Blackpool, then one of the strongest teams in the First Division.

Perry slotted into a dazzling forward line, scoring 129 goals in 435 appearances between 1951 and 1962. In addition to the famous final, Blackpool had lost 2-0 to Newcastle in the 1951 final and finished second to Manchester United in the 1955/56 Championship.

During this time he played three times for England, scoring twice in a 4-1 win over Spain (1955).

Injuries blighted Perry’s final season at Blackpool and he was transferred to Southport where he played 26 times without scoring.

After spells in non-League football, Perry, married with three children, settled in Blackpool as a printer.

Bill Perry, footballer; born September 10, 1930, died September 27, 2007