Plaque tribute planned to footballer from Wilsden who died aged 29

Money raised will fund the installation of a blue plaque at Wilsden, in memory of Jeff Hall – who grew-up in the village.

During his tragically-brief professional playing career, which spanned just eight years, Jeff made 227 appearances for Birmingham City and played 17 times for England.

He became ill following a match in March, 1959, and was diagnosed with polio.

His condition deteriorated and he died a fortnight later.

“Jeff was a footballing legend – he was on the losing side only once in his 17 games for England,” said village councillor Jane Callaghan, who is spearheading the crowdfunding initiative on behalf of Wilsden Parish Council.

“He married a beautiful girl and they should have been sporting royalty, yet Jeff was still delivering newspapers around Wilsden on his trips back home!

“His quiet and engaging personality – together with his superb football skills and fair play – meant he was universally admired and his death was a huge loss, especially when it would have been prevented had he been vaccinated.

“His older sister Joan kept his memory alive in Wilsden during her lifetime, but since her death three years ago Jeff is in danger of being forgotten in the place which was quietly but emphatically proud of him.”

Jeff was born in Scunthorpe, but at just three days old moved to Wilsden with parents Percy and Minnie, and Joan.

They lived at the New Inn, helping Percy’s sister to run the pub – where the plaque will be placed.

After attending Wilsden School then Bingley Secondary Modern, Jeff trained in joinery and worked for a short time as a textile fitter. But his passion was football.

He played for the village team, then Keighley St Anne’s and Bradford Park Avenue, as an amateur.

It was while playing in a match during his National Service with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers that Jeff was spotted by a Birmingham City scout, and he was signed-up by the club.

Following his tragic death eight years later, Jeff was buried at Wilsden Cemetery, in Shay Lane.

As part of the crowdfunding campaign, which has been launched to coincide with the 90th anniversary of Jeff’s birth and the 60th anniversary of his death, it is also hoped to raise enough to clean-up his grave.

And any surplus money will be donated to the British Polio Fellowship, which works with people in the UK who suffer from post-polio syndrome – a neurological condition that can occur many years after having the disease.

When Jeff died, his grief-stricken wife of less than two years – Dawn – campaigned to raise awareness globally of the importance of the polio vaccination.

The widespread public shock at Jeff’s death coupled with Dawn’s campaigning helped spark a surge in the uptake of the injectable vaccine, first introduced to the UK in 1956. Vaccinations rose to such a level that emergency supplies had to be flown in from the USA and queues formed at clinics.

Dawn’s efforts helped save countless lives, and shortly before she died in 2016 she learned she was to be honoured with the British Empire Medal. The accolade was presented posthumously to members of her family from her second marriage.

To donate to the plaque fundraising, which has a target of £460, visit crowdfunder.co.uk/a-blue-plaque-in-wilsden-for-jeff-hall-footballer. Alternatively, donations can be sent to Wilsden Parish Council, The Village Hall, Townfield, Wilsden BD15 0HT.

The blue plaque will be the third to be provided in the village by the parish council.

Last year, one was installed at Moss Row in tribute to Wilsden ‘old boy’ Alfred Fowler, who became a leading international astronomer. And earlier this year a plaque in memory of Olympic gymnast Carrie Pickles was mounted on the wall of the house – at 149 Main Street – where she was born.