Digger Kettle
Encyclopedia
Albert Henry "Digger" Kettle (3 June 1922 - 1 March 1999) was a footballer who played for Colchester United
.
, Kettle served in the Royal Air Force
in Rhodesia
and Italy
during World War II
. After playing for Stanway Rovers
, Chapel and Wakes Colne and Arclight Sports as a teenager, he signed for Colchester United
in 1946. Remaining part-time, he played as a full-back for Colchester in the Southern League
and Football League
whilst continuing to work for Woods, a fan manufacturer in Colchester.
After 23 appearances in the Football League, Kettle signed for Sudbury Town
in 1955. After two seasons with Sudbury he signed for Woods Athletic, where he ended his playing career.
Digger and his brother David Kettle and other residents of Eight Ash Green foundered Eight Ash Green Cricket club, clearing Fordham Heath and building the cricket Pavillion still there today. (see entry for Eight Ash Green Cricket Club.)
Digger was also a great green bowler, winning many trophies for several local clubs and individually, a true sportsman adapting to many different sports as age and ability dictated !!
His legacy lives on in his 3 daughters who all played and umpired in the Colchester Netball league, his eldest daughter Anna ran the London Marathon, youngest daughter Sally also played Basketball. Hopefully his grandchildren (3 boys, 2 girls),
great grandchildren(3 boys, 3 girls) will continue to enjoy sport in his spirit.
He died in 1999.
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
.
Biography
Born in ColchesterColchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
, Kettle served in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
in Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After playing for Stanway Rovers
Stanway Rovers F.C.
Stanway Rovers F.C. is an English football club based in Stanway, Essex. They are currently in the Premier Division of the Eastern Counties League, and play at the Hawthorns.-History:...
, Chapel and Wakes Colne and Arclight Sports as a teenager, he signed for Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
in 1946. Remaining part-time, he played as a full-back for Colchester in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
and Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
whilst continuing to work for Woods, a fan manufacturer in Colchester.
After 23 appearances in the Football League, Kettle signed for Sudbury Town
Sudbury Town F.C.
Sudbury Town F.C. was an English football club based in Sudbury, Suffolk. Established in 1885, the club merged with Sudbury Wanderers in 1999 to form A.F.C. Sudbury.-History:...
in 1955. After two seasons with Sudbury he signed for Woods Athletic, where he ended his playing career.
Digger and his brother David Kettle and other residents of Eight Ash Green foundered Eight Ash Green Cricket club, clearing Fordham Heath and building the cricket Pavillion still there today. (see entry for Eight Ash Green Cricket Club.)
Digger was also a great green bowler, winning many trophies for several local clubs and individually, a true sportsman adapting to many different sports as age and ability dictated !!
His legacy lives on in his 3 daughters who all played and umpired in the Colchester Netball league, his eldest daughter Anna ran the London Marathon, youngest daughter Sally also played Basketball. Hopefully his grandchildren (3 boys, 2 girls),
great grandchildren(3 boys, 3 girls) will continue to enjoy sport in his spirit.
He died in 1999.
External links
- Player profile - Digger Kettle Colchester United Archive Database