Vernon Avis
Vernon Charles Sidney Avis (24 October 1935 – June 1996) was an English footballer who played as a left back in the Football League for Brentford.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Vernon Charles Sidney Avis[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 24 October 1935 | ||
| Place of birth | Marylebone, England | ||
| Date of death | June 1996 (aged 60)[1] | ||
| Place of death | Northampton, England | ||
| Position(s) | Left back, centre forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1952–1953 | Brentford | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1953–1961 | Brentford | 19 | (0) |
| 1961–1966 | Bedford Town | 179 | (2) |
| Rushden Town | |||
| Teams managed | |||
| 1967 | Bedford Town (caretaker) | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
Playing career
Brentford
Avis began his career in the youth team at Second Division club Brentford.[2] He made his debut at age 18 in a 0–0 draw with Stoke City at Griffin Park on 12 December 1953.[3] Due to national service and with Ken Coote ahead of him in the pecking order,[4][5] Avis spent much of his subsequent Griffin Park career in the reserve team.[2] His best first team appearance tally was 11, in the 1959–60 Third Division season.[3] He departed the club in 1961, after making just 19 appearances.[2]
Bedford Town
Avis dropped into non-League football and signed for Southern League Premier Division club Bedford Town in 1961.[6] A left back by trade, Avis spent an early part of his Bedford career at centre forward.[7] He made nearly 200 appearances over the course of five seasons, before hanging up his boots at the end of the 1965–66 campaign.[8] Avis played two matches during the 1966–67 season as an emergency replacement.[8] He left the club in 1967 and joined United Counties League First Division club Rushden Town.[8]
Managerial and coaching career
Avis became the trainer at Bedford Town in 1966, and stepped in as caretaker manager in April 1967.[8] He departed the club when Ron Heckman was appointed first team manager later that month.[8]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Brentford | 1953–54[3] | Second Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 1956–57[3] | Third Division South | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1959–60[3] | Third Division | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 11 | 0 | ||
| 1960–61[3] | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | ||
References
- "Vernon Avis". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. p. 14. ISBN 978-0955294914.
- White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 382–386. ISBN 0951526200.
- "Sands of Time: Ground number 80". Get West London. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
- Official Progamme – Brentford Football Club vs Swindon Town – Season 1956–57 (PDF). 21 August 1956. p. 5.
- "Best Years Players A-B". bedfordoldeagles. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
- "1961/2 in photos". bedfordoldeagles. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
- "1966/7 Summary". bedfordoldeagles. Retrieved 25 July 2014.