One of the first players I remember ( because my grandad never rated him, yes we had scapegoats before social media) RIP Eric, Once a Red always a Red!!!
Eric was replaced in the team by my favourite ever Barnsley left back, Darton born David Booth R.I.P. Eric and sincere condolences to the Brookes family.
Good solid defender and part of the first team I watched at Oakwell in 1967-68. After us, he went on to play for Northampton. He was unfortunately one of the Cobblers' side to come up against Manchester United in the FA Cup in 1970. George Best scored 6 in a 8-2 win for United at the County Ground. Best, at that stage of his career was unplayable. But Eric was very reliable in his time. RIP Eric.
Eric made his debut in 1961, and played in our long cup run in that year that ended in a quarter final defeat (in a replay) against Leicester City. He was tipped for the big time, but for him, the big time never arrived. He was still at the club in 1965, when I began supporting the club more seriously, and we had several years together, either side of the touchline as I found my feet as a fan. Sad to say, he never quite fulfilled that early potential, and moved on to end his career elsewhere (Northampton, I think). Nevertheless, he is right at the forefront of my memories of those early days, and his death is a reminder of my own mortality. RIP Eric.
Went on to be player/manager of March Town. March is a Fenland market town and civil parish in the Isle of Ely area of Cambridgeshire, England. It was the county town of the Isle of Ely which was a separate administrative county from 1889 to 1965. It is now the administrative centre of Fenland District Council. March Town appear to presently be in the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League - First Division North. Been in the first round of FA Cup twice.
John Short I remember well not as a player for BFC but as a miner at Houghton Main Colliery as a young man , me that is not John . Told me of his exploits as a player for Everton and Wolves if memory serves , played with the great Billy Wright RIP Eric another of my boyhood memories never forgotten .
Although he was only two years older than me he was one of my boyhood heroes. I remember getting his autograph once away at Bradford. Such sad news,
Bloody hell BigLil Dave Booth is a blast from the past.We used to knock about as kids.He is a few months older than me and he was a good footballer as a kid.Good memories.