Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 2 May 1944 | ||
Place of birth | Chester-le-Street, England | ||
Date of death | 16 March 2009 | (aged 64)||
Playing position | Midfielder | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1961–1966 | Newcastle United | 144 | (41) |
1966–1976 | Blackpool | 310 | (65) |
1976–1977 | Stoke City | 9 | (1) |
1977–1978 | → Southport (loan) | 6 | (0) |
1977–1978 | Bury | 34 | (2) |
1978–1979 | Barrow | 38 | (3) |
1979–19?? | Lancaster City | ||
Total | 541 | (112) | |
National team | |||
196? | England U23 | 2 | (1) |
Teams managed | |||
Barrow | |||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
Alan Suddick (2 May 1944 – 16 March 2009) was an English professional footballer who played at inside-right for Blackpool, Bury, Newcastle United, Southport and Stoke City. He was known for his "banana" free-kicks.
Born in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, at the age of 17 years and 158 days, Suddick became Newcastle United's then-youngest-ever player. He was part of the Newcastle team that were Second Division champions and won promotion to the First Division in 1964–65. In his time at Newcastle, he played 152 games and scored 43 goals.
On 22 October 1966, Blackpool beat Newcastle 6–0 at Bloomfield Road. Suddick was in the Magpies' team that day, and so impressed were the home side with his commitment that, two months later, they paid a then-club-record £63,000 for his services.
Suddick made his Blackpool debut on 26 December 1966, in a 4–1 home defeat by West Ham United, and was virtually ever-present from that point on, striking up a partnership with Tommy Hutchison on the left or deep in midfield. Five days after his debut Suddick scored his first goal for the club in a 5–1 win at Southampton. In 1968–69, he was Blackpool's top scorer with twelve goals, missing just one game all season. He was part of the Blackpool team that won promotion to the First Division in 1969–70, and played in every league and cup match. He also played a big part in the Seasiders' FA Cup third round replay victory over Arsenal at Bloomfield Road on 15 January 1970, when Blackpool, 2–0 down at half-time, came back to win 3–2 with Suddick scoring the first goal.