Chick Musson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chick Musson
Personal information
Birth name Walter Urban Musson[1]
Date of birth (1920-10-08)8 October 1920
Place of birth Kilburn, England
Date of death 22 April 1955(1955-04-22) (aged 34)
Place of death Loughborough, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position(s) Wing half
Youth career
19xx–1936 Holbrook St. Michael's
1936–1942 Derby County
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1942–1954 Derby County 246 (0)
1954–1955 Loughborough Brush
Managerial career
1954–1955 Loughborough Brush
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Walter Urban "Chick" Musson (8 October 1920 – 22 April 1955) was an English professional footballer who played as a wing half, most notably for Derby County. He later became player-manager of Loughborough Brush before his death in 1955.

Career[edit]

Derby County[edit]

Born in Kilburn, Musson played non-league football for Holbrook St. Michael's, before signing with Derby County as an amateur in March 1936, aged 15.[1] He became a first-team regular following his senior debut in 1942, and during his time was unchallenged in his role of left-half. In 1951, he succeeded Tim Ward as club captain, following the former's move to Barnsley,[2] however suffered an injury that same year in a tour game against Holland, which kept him out of the team for most of the season.[3] He later lost the captaincy after the first four games of the 1953–54 season.[4]

He would spend eight seasons in the Football League with Derby County, where he made 246 appearances.[5] During his time at the club, Musson received two benefit matches, in 1950 and 1953 respectively, the latter earning him £750.[4]

Loughborough Brush[edit]

After leaving Derby in June 1954, he became player-manager of Loughborough Brush,[1] making his debut the following August against Bedworth Town.[6]

Personal life[edit]

He was a regular member of the Derby County cricket team, as well as playing in Border League games.[4]

The Evening Telegraph reported on 14 April 1955 that Musson had been admitted to Loughborough General Hospital with a blood complaint.[7] He later died on 22 April 1955 from a serious kidney condition. He was survived by his wife and two children.[8] Several members of the 1946 FA Cup Final team attended the funeral on 26 April, two of whom were pallbearers. Over 200 people were at the church, while crowds gathered outside.[1] He became the first player of the cup final team to die.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Funeral of Mr 'Chick' Musson: Coffin carried by footballers". Evening Telegraph. Derby. 27 April 1955. p. 30.
  2. ^ a b "F.P. Sporting Gallery: Chick Musson". Football Post. 28 April 1951. p. 3.
  3. ^ "Musson back after long absence". Football Post. 20 December 1952. p. 8.
  4. ^ a b c "Musson's Second Benefit". Evening Post. Nottingham. 5 October 1953. p. 3.
  5. ^ "Profile". Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database.
  6. ^ "Debut for Brush". Leicester Evening Mail. 19 August 1954. p. 9.
  7. ^ "Sports Briefs: Musson admitted to hospital". Evening Telegraph. Derby. 14 April 1955. p. 74.
  8. ^ "'Chick' Musson dies at 34". Manchester Evening News. 22 April 1955. p. 1.
  9. ^ Anton Rippon (8 October 2017). "The night I saw Derby County legends Raich Carter and Peter Doherty grace Baseball Ground pitch". Derby Telegraph. Retrieved 16 February 2024.