John Proudman

Debut game
v RAF T (a) 9th September 1943

Final game for Gresley Rovers first team
v Melton Town (a) 4th May 1946

John was injured after falling heavily attempting to make a save within the first 5 minutes of the Quorn Methodists v Moira Utd Leicestershire Senior League game at Quorn on 23rd September 1950.
John was taken to Harlow Wood Hospital, Mansfield but died of a fractured spine the following day aged 27 yrs.
He played for Newhall Utd and then Moira Utd and worked at Cadley Hill Colliery.

Paul Dennis recalls:

My father worked at Cadley Hill pit with John Proudman and told me how he died on the football pitch.
He also told me about an exhibition game that John played in for Gresley Rovers, when amongst the opposition was the legendary Raich Carter. During the game Carter hit one of his trademark powerful drives which John Proudman managed to get in the way off, the ball cannoning off his chest before he could grasp it. At work the following day he stripped off his shirt to show Raich Carter's autograph a round red imprint of the heavy case ball, complete with panels, in the centre of his chest.

During the War years 1939-1945 records are not reliable as many games and players were not published in the local press.
Also, players were called up and played as and when they were available.
These figures are based on the most reliable available.