Jess Willard (footballer)

Cecil Thomas Frederick Willard (16 January 1924 – 6 May 2005), known as Jess Willard, was an English professional footballer who played as a right half and inside forward in the Football League for Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace.[1][2] After his retirement from playing he became a coach and trainer, first managing the youth team and serving as first team coach at Crystal Palace, then later working as trainer at Brentford and presiding over one match as caretaker manager in January 1975.[3]

Jess Willard
Personal information
Full name Cecil Thomas Frederick Willard[1]
Date of birth (1924-01-16)16 January 1924
Place of birth Chichester, England
Date of death 6 May 2005(2005-05-06) (aged 81)[1]
Place of death Chichester, England
Position(s) Right half, inside forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Chichester
1946–1953 Brighton & Hove Albion 190 (22)
1953–1955 Crystal Palace 46 (5)
Managerial career
Crystal Palace (youth team)
1975 Brentford (caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Personal life

Willard attended the Lancastrian School in his home town of Chichester and later worked for Shippam's.[4] He boxed in his youth and acquired the nickname "Jess".[4] Willard served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.[4] As of March 2001, Willard was living in Turners Hill Park, Sussex.[4]

References
  1. "Jess Willard". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  2. "Appearances". Crystal Palace FC. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  3. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 297. ISBN 978-0951526200.
  4. "Survivor Jess cherished sporting life with Albion". The Argus. Retrieved 13 July 2016.


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