Don Ratcliffe

Donald "Don" Ratcliffe (13 November 1934 – 19 October 2014) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Crewe Alexandra, Darlington, Middlesbrough and Stoke City.[1][3]

Don Ratcliffe
Personal information
Full name Donald Ratcliffe[1]
Date of birth (1934-11-13)13 November 1934[1]
Place of birth Newcastle-under-Lyme, England[1]
Date of death 19 October 2014(2014-10-19) (aged 79)[2]
Playing position(s) Winger
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1954–1963 Stoke City 238 (16)
1963–1966 Middlesbrough 65 (3)
1965–1967 Darlington 86 (12)
1967–1969 Crewe Alexandra 48 (2)
– Northwich Victoria
Total 436 (33)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Ratcliffe was born in Newcastle-under-Lyme and joined Stoke City in May 1953 after being recommended to the club by a local grocer who had seen him playing football in the street.[3] He made his debut at home to Bury on Christmas Day in 1954–55 and of his 11 appearances in that season six were against Bury.[3] He became the prankster of Stoke's dressing room and was a hugely popular figure amongst the players. On the pitch Ratcliffe's natural position was left wing although he played in every position bar centre half causing Stoke manager Tony Waddington to boast that Ratcliffe was the first £100,000 footballer – as they could have sold him for £10,000 for each position.[3] Under Waddington he was a regular and played in every match in 1962–63 as Stoke won the Second Division title.[3]

He fell out of favour with Waddington in the First Division and he was sold to Middlesbrough for £27,500 in September 1963.[3] Ratcliffe's time at "Boro" was not that good as he brands manager Raich Carter as 'a waste of space' which ended with Ratcliffe joining Darlington in February 1966 helping the club gain promotion in 1965–66 which was followed by an instant relegation.[3] He moved on again to Crewe Alexandra and again gained promotion from the Fourth Division and he ended his career with non-league Northwich Victoria.[3] Ratcliffe died on 19 October 2014 at the age of 79.[2]

Career statistics

Source:[4]

Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City 1954–55 Second Division 6052–112
1955–56 Second Division 8000–80
1956–57 Second Division 1000–10
1957–58 Second Division 31320–333
1958–59 Second Division 31100–311
1959–60 Second Division 31100–311
1960–61 Second Division 4146110485
1961–62 Second Division 3923010432
1962–63 Second Division 4251020455
1963–64 First Division 80001090
Total 238161735026019
Middlesbrough 1963–64 Second Division 2521000262
1964–65 Second Division 2604000300
1965–66 Second Division 1411000151
Total 6536000713
Darlington 1965–66 Fourth Division 2150000215
1966–67 Third Division 4244132497
1967–68 Fourth Division 2331152296
Total 861251849916
Crewe Alexandra 1967–68 Fourth Division 2020000202
1968–69 Third Division 2703020320
Total 4723020522
Career Total 4363331415448241

Honours
Stoke City
Darlington
Crewe Alexandra

References
  1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. "Don Ratcliffe". Stoke City F.C. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  3. Stoke City 101 Golden Greats. Desert Islands Books. 2002. ISBN 1-874287554.
  4. Don Ratcliffe at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  • Don Ratcliffe at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
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