RIP Des Tennant

N

nobody's dupe

Old Fart

Feb 12, 2004

1,133

I'm behind you!

• Jan 12, 2009

• #1

I have just learned of the demise of former Albion player and captain Des Tennant after a long illness. Des died in his beloved Wales over the weekend.

He was on the Albion's books from 1948 to 1959. He made 400 appearences, mainly at right back yet he scored 40 goals.

My thoughts are with his son Warren who still lives in Hove. RIP Des you lovely man.

 

The Oldman

I like the Hat

NSC Patron

Jul 12, 2003

7,108

In the shadow of Seaford Head

• Jan 12, 2009

• #2

Des "The Tank" Tennant. What a player. "May perputual light shine on you"

 

C

csider

New member

Dec 11, 2006

4,497

Hove

• Jan 12, 2009

• #3

RIP.

 

G

Gwylan

Well-known member

Jul 5, 2003

31,358

Uffern

• Jan 12, 2009

• #4

Before my time, but one of my dad's favourite players.

I know that he's come back to the Albion for the odd game over the years - a great servant of the club.

RIP

 

F

Freddie Goodwin.

Well-known member

Mar 31, 2007

7,186

Brighton

• Jan 12, 2009

• #5

Before my time but highly regarded by those who saw him. 400+ games makes him a legand.

 

Al Bion

What's that in my dustbin

Sep 3, 2004

1,855

Up North

• Jan 12, 2009

• #6

Sad news, an Albion great, RIP Des and my sympathy to his family

 

B

BensGrandad

New member

Jul 13, 2003

72,015

Haywards Heath

• Jan 13, 2009

• #7

A very popular player of the past RIP.

 

Nottseagull

Well-known member

Nov 28, 2006

8,419

The Tory stronghold of Mansfield (majority increas

• Jan 13, 2009

• #8

I don't remember the name at all, before my time. Anyone got a pic they could scan and post?

 

B

BensGrandad

New member

Jul 13, 2003

72,015

Haywards Heath

• Jan 13, 2009

• #9

He was originally a right half but moved to right back during the 50s.

Have tried a google search and also The Argus but comes up no answers.

 

Last edited: Jan 13, 2009

W

Woodingdean Gull

New member

Jul 7, 2003

1,186

Woodingdean, Brighton

• Jan 13, 2009

• #10

Saw 'The Tank' play many times and this guy was a truly excellent club man.

He scored one of the greatest goals ever seen out at the Goldstone when we were playing Burnley in the FA cup. At the time, Burnley was one of the top teams in the old First Division with many internationals. I believe we were 2-3 down when he struck the ball towards the North Stand from about 35 yards and equalised to take us to Turf Moor for a replay.

Rest in Peace Des.

 

B

BensGrandad

New member

Jul 13, 2003

72,015

Haywards Heath

• Jan 13, 2009

• #11

I am fairly sure that either at the end of last season or the begining of this they did a tribute on the Withdean pitch to both the cup final teams of 1983 and the Div III South winning team of 1957/58 was probably last season as the 25th Anniversary of the cup final and 50th of gaining promotion the first time ever. Des was presented on the pitch along with Denis Foreman and Eric Gill.

 

W

Woodingdean Gull

New member

Jul 7, 2003

1,186

Woodingdean, Brighton

• Jan 13, 2009

• #12

BensGrandad said:

I am fairly sure that either at the end of last season or the begining of this they did a tribute on the Withdean pitch to both the cup final teams of 1983 and the Div III South winning team of 1957/58 was probably last season as the 25th Anniversary of the cup final and 50th of gaining promotion the first time ever. Des was presented on the pitch along with Denis Foreman and Eric Gill.

Click to expand...

What great memories there are of that 57/8 season and the first ever promotion from the old Div 3 South.

 

Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!

Primary data is fact

Jun 25, 2007

6,107

Just on the wrong side of the West Sussex/Surrey b

• Jan 13, 2009

• #13

I think you're right there BG.

Bwyso i mewn chlytia Des a ddiolch'ch.

 

Cadiz Seagull

Grey bearded old man

Jul 7, 2003

5,990

Between Haywards Heath and Trujillo, Extremadura,

• Jan 13, 2009

• #14

Woodingdean Gull said:

He scored one of the greatest goals ever seen out at the Goldstone when we were playing Burnley in the FA cup. At the time, Burnley was one of the top teams in the old First Division with many internationals. I believe we were 2-3 down when he struck the ball towards the North Stand from about 35 yards and equalised to take us to Turf Moor for a replay.

Click to expand...

I was at that game and remember that fantastic goal. Burnley were one of the two top teams in the country then.

But I'm not sure Des Tennant scored it. I thought it was Bob McNichol?

RIP Des, I met him at a book signing, nice bloke.

 

The Oldman

I like the Hat

NSC Patron

Jul 12, 2003

7,108

In the shadow of Seaford Head

• Jan 13, 2009

• #15

It was Bob McNichol who scored that goal.

Here's Des withh Flash Gordon. Pictures courtesy of Ebay!

 

Attachments

• 
  Tennant & Gordon.jpg

  7.8 KB · Views: 304

Last edited: Jan 13, 2009

W

Woodingdean Gull

New member

Jul 7, 2003

1,186

Woodingdean, Brighton

• Jan 13, 2009

• #16

Cadiz Seagull said:

I was at that game and remember that fantastic goal. Burnley were one of the two top teams in the country then.

But I'm not sure Des Tennant scored it. I thought it was Bob McNichol?

RIP Des, I met him at a book signing, nice bloke.

Click to expand...

Apologies, you're quite right. On that occasion it was Bob. Definitely recall Tank scoring goals like that from long range though. What with him one side and my first idol, Jimmy Langley on the other, the Albion had a formidable set of full backs.

 

bristolseagull

Well-known member

Jul 5, 2003

5,554

Lindfield

• Jan 13, 2009

• #17

the guy from doctor who?

 

The Oldman

I like the Hat

NSC Patron

Jul 12, 2003

7,108

In the shadow of Seaford Head

• Jan 13, 2009

• #18

Woodingdean Gull said:

Apologies, you're quite right. On that occasion it was Bob. Definitely recall Tank scoring goals like that from long range though. What with him one side and my first idol, Jimmy Langley on the other, the Albion had a formidable set of full backs.

Click to expand...

How right you are. Both excellent full backs and Des could hit man and ball very hard!

 

B

BensGrandad

New member

Jul 13, 2003

72,015

Haywards Heath

• Jan 13, 2009

• #19

Jimmy Langley was the first person I ever saw take what is now regarded as a long throw.

 

N

nobody's dupe

Old Fart

Feb 12, 2004

1,133

I'm behind you!

• Jan 13, 2009

• Thread starter
• #20

BensGrandad said:

I am fairly sure that either at the end of last season or the begining of this they did a tribute on the Withdean pitch to both the cup final teams of 1983 and the Div III South winning team of 1957/58 was probably last season as the 25th Anniversary of the cup final and 50th of gaining promotion the first time ever. Des was presented on the pitch along with Denis Foreman and Eric Gill.

Click to expand...

Des wasn't able to make that occasion due to his ilness. However he was at Withdean at the end of Micky's first season with us, and he was presented to fans with some of his ex-colleagues on the pitch on that occasion.

After the game the current team along with both Micky and Corky in cracking form were guests at a (Wedge's) Preston Park pub. The old team went along too. The Albion fans had a great evening mingling with their idols old and new. Des really enjoyed the day too.

I had the priviledge of driving Des from the pub to his son's house. He told me about his condition Motor Neurone Disease, and that he went to the hospital on a monthly basis for tests.
"It's not for me that I have the tests. They can't help me, but they might be able to help the poor buggers who come after me," he said.

Other posts have spoken of the goals that he scored. I have an abiding memory of one of his specials. When Des played there were always fixtures on both Christmas and Boxing Day. If you were at home to a particular team on Christmas Morning then you played the same team away on Boxing Day afternoon. One Christmas morning we played Newport County away, and we won by maybe three or four goals. The large home crowd at The Goldstone the next afternoon were stunned in to silence as Newport were two up. We pulled one back and we threw everything at them as they defended the north goal. It was one way traffic, but with a few minutes remaining we were still losing. Almost on time Des was on the ball in a midfield position about forty yards out. He advanced a couple of places and let fly. The force of the shot meant that the keeper went up to save it at the same time as the net bulged. Once again Des had come to the rescue.