The month of Juni is one of summer and a number of previous stars from the past are celebrating their birthdays, some of them are still doing a great job in football no longer as players but in other capacities.
We are also looking at some of those who have passed away, and that we so fondly remembers. You can always look up our list of birthdays at the top of the menu.
In June there are many stars to celebrate, and also some that needs to be mentioned that no longer is with us, one of the are Keith Weller who would have turned 73 on the 11th of June. Sadly Keith Weller lost his battle against cancer back in November 2004 at the age of 58. Keith had a glorious football career, spending a number of years in US, after a great number of games at Spurs, Millwall and Leicester.
He later became a coach in the NASL touring USA and promoting “soccer”, playing for clubs such as New England Tea Men, Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Tulsa Roughnecks. He was later a coach and manager at clubs such as Dallas Sidekicks, San Diego Sockers and Sacramento Knights.
A former teammate of Keith Weller was Dennis Rofe. Rofe spent most of his career with Leicester City were he played alongside Weller. Rofe was signed by Leicester manager Jimmy Bloomfield back in 1972, just a year after Weller joined. Rofe turned 69 on the first of June. Rofe had a respected career in English football, playing for Orient, Leicester, Chelsea and Southampton. He has spent most of his life in football being a coach or in management at Southampton, Bournemouth and Bristol Rovers.
One of those players to come up against Dennis Rofe many times was Peter Barnes. The England winger turned 62 on the 10th of June, another Manchester City hero Glyn Pardoe also celebrated his birthday this month, on the 1st. Pardoe played for Manchester City from 1962 to 1976 and this was his only club in professional football. Peter Barnes had another destiny in football, being probably at his very best in his early 20’s, making a great England debut at the age of 20 against Italy in 1977, winning 2-0 win at Wembley.
Barnes had allready won the League Cup a year before, defeating Newcastle in the final and scoring one of the goals. He left Man City as early as 1979, then manager Malcolm Allison accepting a record fee of £750.000 from West Bromwich. Barnes later moved to Leeds and Coventry, before he made a surprising move to neighbour Man Utd and again an emotional return to Man City at the age of 30, lasting just a few months before a long run of teams were entertained by the player that had gained 22 caps for England before the age of 25.
The greatest goalkeeper ever to have played might be difficult to decide, but up there among the best are a player that has stopped shots from Peter Barnes a number of times. Former Spurs and Arsenal goalkeeper Pat Jennings turned 73 on the 12th of June. He is also fondly remembered for his international career with Northern Ireland playing 119 times for his country, including two World Cups, 1982 and 1986.
On the 19th of June a player fondly remembered for his performances especially at Manchester United and Stoke City, but also being a good servant at Birmingham City and Leeds United, who he won the League Cup with in 1968. JG picked up a few more medals winning the League Cup with Stoke City and the FA Cup with Manchester United. One of those who never won a full England cap but probably would have done well if selected. Greenhoff will turn 73 on his day.
Alongside Jimmy Greenhoff at Stoke City were another player that was also short of England caps, playing only two games in an England shirt. Alan Hudson turning 68 on the 21st of June. His talent was fantastic, but he never managed to fulfill his potential and missing out on the World Cup, being seen as a top selection for both the 1974 and 1978 World Cup. At the time playing for Stoke and Arsenal. Hudson is probably best known for his time at Chelsea winning the European Cup Winners Cup. He spent a number of years with Seattle Sounders in the NASL, being seen as one of the “lost once” in that set up under Ron Greenwood, not picking players from over the pond.
John Aston, previously with Manchester United, playing in that European Cup final win in 1968, turns 72 on the 28th of June. Aston joined Luton Town and had one season back in the top flight, but had to see The Hatters relegated as he moved on to Mansfield and ended his playing career at Blackburn Rovers.
At last from the past we include Mervyn Day who might be seen as a West Ham legend but had respectful careers with both Aston Villa and Leeds United, where he was part of a League winning squad in 1992. Day was seen as a potential England international but was never selected in great competition with players such as Peter Shilton, Ray Clemence, Joe Corrigan and Phil Parkes. Day turns 64 on the 26th.
If you like to see all names included in June, click here
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