Bedford Jezzard
Encyclopedia
Bedford Alfred George Jezzard, (19 October 1927 – 21 May 2005), was a football player. Jezzard's teenage years coincided with the Second World War, and he began football as an amateur with Croxley Boys and later Watford
, for whom he made three FA Cup
appearances. Upon the resumption of peacetime football, Jezzard spent his entire professional career as a striker
at Fulham
, during the 1940s and 1950s. He holds the club's post-war record for league goals scored in a season – 38 in 1953–54. He also won two England
caps in 1954 and 1955. His Fulham career lasted only from 1948 to 1957, due to an irreversible injury. During his time at Fulham, he was picked for the London XI
in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
.
"Beddy" Jezzard later managed Fulham from 1958 until 1964, taking them back into the First Division. He became discontented with the changes in football culture in the mid-1960s – essentially the abolition of the maximum wage (through teammates Jimmy Hill
and Johnny Haynes
), which led to the concentration of power in the hands of the richer clubs – and retired to run a pub.
He died in May 2005 at the age of 77, and had been ill with multi-infarct dementia
for some time before his death.
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, for whom he made three FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
appearances. Upon the resumption of peacetime football, Jezzard spent his entire professional career as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
at Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
, during the 1940s and 1950s. He holds the club's post-war record for league goals scored in a season – 38 in 1953–54. He also won two England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
caps in 1954 and 1955. His Fulham career lasted only from 1948 to 1957, due to an irreversible injury. During his time at Fulham, he was picked for the London XI
London XI
The London XI was an association football representative team, specially created to take part in the 1955-58 edition of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, the precursor of today's UEFA Europa League although not recognized by UEFA....
in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was a European football competition played between 1955 and 1971. The competition was the idea of Swiss pools supremo Ernst Thommen, Ottorino Barassi from Italy, and the English Football Association general secretary Stanley Rous, all of whom later became senior officials...
.
"Beddy" Jezzard later managed Fulham from 1958 until 1964, taking them back into the First Division. He became discontented with the changes in football culture in the mid-1960s – essentially the abolition of the maximum wage (through teammates Jimmy Hill
Jimmy Hill
James William Thomas "Jimmy" Hill OBE is an English association football personality. His career has taken in virtually every role in football, including player, union leader, coach, manager, director, chairman, television executive, presenter, analyst and match official.-Early life:Hill was born...
and Johnny Haynes
Johnny Haynes
John Norman "Johnny" Haynes was an English footballer, best known for his 18 years at Fulham. He played a club-record 658 games and scored 158 goals for the club between 1952 and 1970...
), which led to the concentration of power in the hands of the richer clubs – and retired to run a pub.
He died in May 2005 at the age of 77, and had been ill with multi-infarct dementia
Multi-infarct dementia
Multi-infarct dementia is one type of vascular dementia. Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's disease in older adults. Multi-infarct dementia is thought to be an irreversible form of dementia, and its onset is caused by a number of small strokes or...
for some time before his death.