Derek Ufton, England’s oldest international who made 277 appearances for Charlton, dies aged 92

England’s oldest international footballer and former Kent cricketer Derek Ufton has died at the age of 92.

Ufton was a one-club man in both sports, making 277 appearances for Charlton and 149 first-class appearances for Kent starting from the 1949-50 season until 1962.

The former centre-back and wicketkeeper also won one Three Lions cap in a match against a Rest of the World side at Wembley in 1953. 

England’s oldest international footballer and former Kent cricketer Derek Ufton has died

Ufton (left) was a one-club man in both sports, making 277 appearances for Charlton

A tweet from Charlton read: ‘The club are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of club legend Derek Ufton, who has died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 92.

‘The thoughts of everyone at Charlton Athletic are with Derek’s family at this difficult time.’

A statement from Kent meanwhile said: ‘He and wife Judy were very regular visitors to The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence from their home in Elham, and all the many people who wanted to stop and talk to him were greeted with a cheery smile and a tremendous fund of stories. Kent will be a much poorer place without him.

‘The thoughts of everyone at the Club are with Derek’s family at this difficult time.’

Born in Crayford on 31 May 1928, he won a scholarship to Dartford Grammar School, where he was taught P.E. by Joe Jagger, Mick’s father, and his passion for sport was allowed to blossom.

Ufton famously dislocated a shoulder at 0-0 and was taken to hospital at Greenwich after 17 minutes of a game against Bill Shankly’s Huddersfield in December 1957.

He also 149 first-class appearances for Kent starting from the 1949-50 season until 1962

He was about to have surgery when he learned his team were 4-1 down, and tried to discharge himself and return to the Valley. When he came round from the anaesthetic, the 10 men had recovered to win 7-6.

Charlton also said Ufton suffered the same injury no fewer than 20 times during his playing days.

For Kent, he scored 3,915 runs at an average of 20.01 and was involved in 313 dismissals, including 269 catches and 44 stumpings.

His most successful season for the county side was in 1961, when he scored 668 runs and claimed 90 victims behind the stumps.

After retiring from playing both sports, Ufton served as Plymouth Argyle manager for three years between 1965 and 1968, taking charge of 115 games in total.

The former centre-back also won one Three Lions cap in a match against a Rest of the World side at Wembley in 1953

He also served as a Charlton club director for 25 years and became Kent president in 2001. 

Fellow club ambassador Keith Peacock told Charlton’s website: ‘I’ve never heard anyone say a bad word about him. He was a wonderful man and a gentleman – thoughtful, kind and very intelligent.

‘Derek was so unique in that there were very few people who could play at a very high level in football or cricket and he managed both, which shows you what an all-round sportsman he was.

‘He had so many stories that he could remember, even until recently, and he was just interesting to speak to. He also always had his opinion on the players of today, particularly the centre-halves!

‘It was an honour just to be around him and to have him be such a big part of Charlton and he will always be remembered.’

He also served as a Charlton club director for 25 years and became Kent president in 2001