Jack Vitty, Workington Reds’ oldest surviving Football League player, has died at the age of 98.
The North East-born full-back joined the Reds for their second season in the Third Division North in 1952 and over the next four-and-a-half years clocked up 208 league and cup appearances for the club.
He was made captain by the great Bill Shankly when he took over as manager and went on to become the first player in Reds’ league stay to clock up 100 appearances.
Jack was interviewed by Tom Allen for his book Reds Remembered a number of years later and still had the congratulatory telegrams sent to him by various of the club’s supporters club.
He also gave an insight into Shankly’s reign at Borough Park.
He recalled: “At Workington, something occurred that happened at no other club I played for.
“Sunday was usually a day off for all but the injured players, yet with Shankly there we all drifted into the ground at some time.
“Even regular churchgoers would come in after their services to be at the ground. There was a great feeling of togetherness that he inspired in us.”
Born in a Durham mining village, and following his dad and brothers down the pit, Jack was soon playing for the local team where his father had been a more than useful centre-forward.
Later when the family moved to South Shields he became big pals with Stan Mortenson who went on to play for Blackpool and England.
In 1941 Jack joined the Marines and saw service in Egypt, Ceylon, India and then Europe before being demobbed at the end of hostilities.
Back home he played football for South Shields and Bolden Villa where he was spotted by a Charlton Athletic scout and duly signed for the 1946/7 season.
Both his brothers signed for Charlton, too, but it was a tough time for Jack. After playing in First Division games at Everton and Derby County he was injured and was never able to regain his place.
He was sold to Brighton for £3,000 in 1949 and played 47 times for the south east club before he got a chance to move back north – a £750 move to Workington.
He said it was a culture shock but “we didn’t take long to settle down among the fabulous people there.”
The family were soon immersed in all things Workington and even became members of the town’s Amateur Operatic Society.
On the field, Jack was a cultured, elegant left back – a natural leader of men – who spent his spare team teaching football skills in the town.
One of his last performances for Reds was in the reserves when he showed his prowess by scoring six goals.
At the age of 37, he was given his release and returned to the North East where he played for South Shields and Bolden Villa – where it all started.
Jack Vitty was one of the great names from Reds early Football League days – a gentleman, a leader – and one of the best full-backs in both the Third Division North and Third Division South.
