Trevor Hockey

Infobox Football biography
playername = Trevor Hockey


fullname = Trevor Hockey
dateofbirth = birth date|1943|5|1|df=y
cityofbirth = Keighley
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath = death date and age|1987|4|2|1943|5|1|df=y
cityofdeath = Keighley
countryofdeath = England
position = Midfielder
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1960–1961
1961–1963
1963–1965
1965–1971
1971–1973
1973
1973–1974
1974–1976
clubs = Bradford City
Nottingham Forest
Newcastle United
Birmingham City
Sheffield United
Norwich City
Aston Villa
Bradford City
caps(goals) = 053 (5)
073 (6)
052 (3)
196 (8)
068 (4)
013 (0)
024 (1)
044 (1)
nationalyears = 1971–1973
nationalteam = Wales
nationalcaps(goals) = 009 (1)

Trevor Hockey (1 May 1943 – 2 April 1987) was a professional footballer. His professional career spanned 16 years, seven clubs and almost 600 appearances, plus nine international caps for Wales.

Playing career

Born in Keighley, Hockey turned professional with Bradford City in May 1960. He left Valley Parade for Nottingham Forest in November 1961, but after just two years at the City Ground, Hockey was on the move again, this time to Newcastle United where he collected a Second Division winners medal in 1965.

Now transformed from a winger into a central midfielder, Hockey joined Birmingham City in November 1965 in a £25,000 deal. He went on to make 231 appearances for the Blues scoring 13 goals. He was also the club captain when he was transferred to Sheffield United for £40,000 in January 1971.

He made his debut in a 2–1 away victory against Oxford United and, following instructions "to battle, to win the ball, and give it to Currie" he instantly became a Bramall Lane cult figure on the pitch with his beatle-style haircut, beard and tough tackling. He played a large part in ensuring that United was promoted that year, including the scoring first goal in a 2–0 win, against Millwall on 13 April, sat down after colliding with the goalkeeper.

His United career virtually ended with a broken leg against Manchester City on 12 February 1972. Struggling to regain his place in the first team, he made his final appearance on 30 December 1972 before Norwich City secured his services in February 1973, swapping him for Scottish striker Jimmy Bone.

However, after just six months with The Canaries, Hockey was back playing his football in Birmingham, this time for Aston Villa. After just a year at Villa Park he was on the move again, this time returning to his first club Bradford City. Hockey drifted into semi-professional football after leaving Bradford and played four Cheshire League games for Ashton United during the 1977–78 season.

Managerial career

In March 1976, Hockey became player-manager at Athlone Town before taking his footballing talents across the pond and a spell with San Diego Jaws in the North American Soccer League. Hockey returned to England the following year and took on the managers role at non-league Stalybridge Celtic before another spell in the States as coach with both San Jose Earthquakes and Los Angeles Quicksilvers.

In 1981, he returned home to reform Keighley Town, a side that had played in the old Yorkshire League after the Second World War. Hockey's intention was to guide Keighley Town into the Northern Premier League by the end of the decade. Based at Utley, Town were accepted into the West Riding County Amateur league's first division. Keighley won the league in their first season back. However, their ground was deemed not acceptable for the league's premier division. Town defeated Shamrocks 3–1 in the Keighley FA Cup final, before going on to beat Silsden 2–0 in the revived Keighley Charity Cup final at the end of the season. In the years that followed, Town would win the County Amateur league premier title, and would be joined by Silsden in that league - yet by the end of the decade Town would again be defunct, Town's demise around the same time as Hockey's death. [ [http://archive.cravenherald.co.uk/2006/1/13/184044.html A century of sporting memories ] ]

Death

He died of a heart attack shortly after taking part in a five-a-side tournament in Keighley on 2 April 1987, aged 43.

References