Born in Bradford, he served in the RAF during the Second World War. He was a versatile, tough-tackling and energetic midfielder who played mainly for Chelsea, joining the club from Bradford Rovers in 1946 for a fee of 100 guineas. He was a key member of Ted Drake's 1954–55 Championship-winning Chelsea side, making 39 appearances that season. He played in over 400 games (including a then-club record 362 league games) and scored 30 goals.
Ken was a member of England's 1954 World Cup squad but did not travel to Switzerland, remaining in England as one of five players on reserve status. He won a solitary England cap, against Scotland at Wembley in England's famous 7–2 win in the British Home Championship in April 1955.
After leaving Chelsea in 1957 Ken emigrated to Gisborne, New Zealand and continued to play football there for several local clubs, including Eastern Suburbs and North Shore United, and won four Chatham Cups. He then took over as manager at Mount Wellington, winning two league titles (in 1972 and 1974) and another Chatham Cup, in 1973. He played his last game in 1971, aged almost 47. Ken was later appointed chief coach of the national side.
Ken played a significant part in developing football in his adopted country and played 13 times for the national side, including nine A-internationals in which he scored three goals.
In 1991, he was posthumously inducted into the New Zealand Soccer Media Association Hall of Fame.
Ken was a member of England's 1954 World Cup squad but did not travel to Switzerland, remaining in England as one of five players on reserve status. He won a solitary England cap, against Scotland at Wembley in England's famous 7–2 win in the British Home Championship in April 1955.
After leaving Chelsea in 1957 Ken emigrated to Gisborne, New Zealand and continued to play football there for several local clubs, including Eastern Suburbs and North Shore United, and won four Chatham Cups. He then took over as manager at Mount Wellington, winning two league titles (in 1972 and 1974) and another Chatham Cup, in 1973. He played his last game in 1971, aged almost 47. Ken was later appointed chief coach of the national side.
Ken played a significant part in developing football in his adopted country and played 13 times for the national side, including nine A-internationals in which he scored three goals.
In 1991, he was posthumously inducted into the New Zealand Soccer Media Association Hall of Fame.
Born in Bradford, he served in the RAF during the Second World War. He was a versatile, tough-tackling and energetic midfielder who played mainly for Chelsea, joining the club from Bradford Rovers in 1946 for a fee of 100 guineas. He was a key member of Ted Drake's 1954–55 Championship-winning Chelsea side, making 39 appearances that season. He played in over 400 games (including a then-club record 362 league games) and scored 30 goals.
Ken was a member of England's 1954 World Cup squad but did not travel to Switzerland, remaining in England as one of five players on reserve status. He won a solitary England cap, against Scotland at Wembley in England's famous 7–2 win in the British Home Championship in April 1955.
After leaving Chelsea in 1957 Ken emigrated to Gisborne, New Zealand and continued to play football there for several local clubs, including Eastern Suburbs and North Shore United, and won four Chatham Cups. He then took over as manager at Mount Wellington, winning two league titles (in 1972 and 1974) and another Chatham Cup, in 1973. He played his last game in 1971, aged almost 47. Ken was later appointed chief coach of the national side.
Ken played a significant part in developing football in his adopted country and played 13 times for the national side, including nine A-internationals in which he scored three goals.
In 1991, he was posthumously inducted into the New Zealand Soccer Media Association Hall of Fame.
Ken was a member of England's 1954 World Cup squad but did not travel to Switzerland, remaining in England as one of five players on reserve status. He won a solitary England cap, against Scotland at Wembley in England's famous 7–2 win in the British Home Championship in April 1955.
After leaving Chelsea in 1957 Ken emigrated to Gisborne, New Zealand and continued to play football there for several local clubs, including Eastern Suburbs and North Shore United, and won four Chatham Cups. He then took over as manager at Mount Wellington, winning two league titles (in 1972 and 1974) and another Chatham Cup, in 1973. He played his last game in 1971, aged almost 47. Ken was later appointed chief coach of the national side.
Ken played a significant part in developing football in his adopted country and played 13 times for the national side, including nine A-internationals in which he scored three goals.
In 1991, he was posthumously inducted into the New Zealand Soccer Media Association Hall of Fame.
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