Roy Cheetham

Roy Alexander Cheetham (21 December 1939 – 8 December 2019)[1] was an English footballer who played for Manchester City, Detroit Cougars, Charlton Athletic and Chester.

Roy Cheetham
Personal information
Date of birth (1939-12-21)21 December 1939
Place of birth Eccles, England
Date of death 8 December 2019(2019-12-08) (aged 79)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1956 Manchester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1956–1968 Manchester City 127 (5)
1968 Detroit Cougars 17 (7)
1968 Charlton Athletic 0 (0)
1968–1972 Chester 124 (8)
1975–1976 Windsor Stars
Managerial career
1975–1976 Windsor Stars
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

As a boy Cheetham watched Manchester City and Manchester United on alternate Saturdays.[2] His career began when he signed for Manchester City as an amateur in 1956. Later that year he turned professional. He made his debut in the 1957–58 season in a 2–1 win against Luton Town. In the following match he was given a torrid time by Arsenal's Jimmy Bloomfield, and returned to the reserves.[3] The following season he began to play more regularly, and he progressed to make 137 first team appearances over the course of a decade.

On 30 August 1965 he became the first Manchester City player to be used as a substitute, replacing Mike Summerbee in a match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.[4]

He played for the Division One championship-winning side in 1967–68, although he had not played enough games to qualify for a medal. He moved to Detroit Cougars of the NASL in January 1968. During his season in Detroit he scored three penalties in a single match against Dallas.[5] In total, Cheetham made 17 apps in the NASL.[6] He then returned to England, signing for Charlton Athletic. He did not make any first team appearances for Charlton, and transferred to Chester in December 1968, where he became club penalty taker.[7] He made 124 league appearances at Chester before leaving in 1972, with his final appearance being a goalless draw at home to Crewe Alexandra on 22 April 1972. This marked the end of his Football League career. A second spell in North America followed in the form of a period at Windsor Stars in Canada.[8]

In 1999 Cheetham made a trip to Budapest to meet childhood hero Ferenc Puskás, and in 2006 represented Manchester City at Puskás' funeral.[2] As of 2007, Cheetham was treasurer of Manchester City's Former Players' Association.[9]

Managerial career

He later managed non-league club Great Harwood Town. In 1975, he became the player-coach for Windsor Stars in the National Soccer League, and secured the Second Division title for the club.[8][10] He re-signed for the 1976 season as Windsor was promoted to the First Division, but was relieved from his duties on 5 August 1976.[11][12]

References
  1. "Former Man City player Roy Cheetham dies at the age of 79". 9 December 2019.
  2. Philip, Robert (22 December 2006). "The day Fred Eyre laid on a goal for mighty Puskas". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 22 December 2007.
  3. Wallace, Dave (2007). Century City – Manchester City Football Club 1957/58. Leigh: King of the Kippax. ISBN 978-0-9557056-0-1. p205
  4. James, Gary (2006). Manchester City - The Complete Record. Derby: Breedon. ISBN 1-85983-512-0. p522
  5. "Roy Cheetham". Manchester City FC Match programme. 15 August 2007.
  6. NASL career stats
  7. Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997. p. 83. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.
  8. Knack, Marty (16 October 1975). "Cheetham is anxious to return to Stars". The Windsor Star. p. 56. Retrieved 22 August 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "City pay respects to Puskas". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 22 December 2007.
  10. "Stars starting early". Windsor Star. 18 November 1975. p. 22.
  11. Hall, Dave (23 March 1976). "Stars' soccer season just around corner". The Windsor Star. p. 27. Retrieved 22 August 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. Hall, Dave (5 August 1976). "Soccer Stars fire coach". The Windsor Star. p. 36. Retrieved 22 August 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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