Fred Potter

[Seamus]

From the Southern League website.


Remarkably, FRED POTTER began his career as an inside right and only became a goalkeeper by pure chance.

He was playing for Halesowen Town in the Birmingham League when he came to Aston Villa's attention and they subsequently signed him as an amateur.

He made his debut for Villa's sixth XI team and scored five times which earned him a rapid promotion to the thirds.

But his playing career turned one cold Boxing Day at Lye Town when Villa`s Scottish international goalkeeper Billy Beaton broke his shoulder.

Potter volunteered to go in goal and Villa went onto win 1-0.

Potter played seven times for Villa's first team but once Nigel Simms and Kevin Keelan had recovered from injury, he found himself back in the thirds and was released by Villa 12 months later.

In July 1962, he joined Doncaster Rovers where he made 123 appearances.

After leaving Doncaster he had a season playing part-time for Southern League Premier Division club Burton Albion and got a job erecting fencing for a Birmingham company.

Then legendary Welsh star John Charles signed him for league rivals Hereford United.

Charles was replaced as manager by Colin Addison, who led the Bulls on their epic FA Cup journey which began by knocking out fellow non-League side King`s Lynn.

It then took three games to dispose of Northampton Town, their third contest taking place at neutral West Bromwich Albion's ground.

By that stage, Hereford already knew who they'd face in the Fourth Round should they beat Newcastle United in the Third Round, having fallen behind with their fixtures.

It was West Ham United at home and future England manager Ron Greenwood came to watch their game with Northampton at the Hawthorns.

Hereford's cup heroics finally came to a halt, losing 3-1 in a replay to a West Ham side containing legendary players Martin Peters, Geoff Hurst, Bobby Moore, Billy Bonds, Harry Redknapp and Clyde Best at Upton Park.

The following season, Hereford were elected into the Football League and went straight through the Fourth Division.

But their first ever game in Division Three the following season at Grimsby Town brought Potter's career to a premature end when he broke his wrist, but more seriously damaging his cruciate ligament as well.

[Laurel Lane Lamper]

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From the programme for when Hereford Reserves played Halesowen in 1972.
Fred's Wikipedia says he joined Villa from his local club Cradley Heath in 1959.

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