Source: FOOTYMAD
Spurdle dies at 85
former wing half passes on Former Latics wing-half Bill Spurdle had died at the age of 85. Spurdle had two spells at Boundary Park and made a total of 218 appearances while scoring 28 goals. He was also at Manchester City for six years and made 172 league and cup matches for the Maine Road side and he also played in the the final of the 1955 FA Cup when he became the first Channel Islander to ever appear in the final. He missed the following cup final through injury and his replacement on that day was Don Revie.Spurdle retired at 37 although he took on the role of trainer and coach to the Latics' reserves. He set up a family market-garden business and he returned to the Channel Islands in 1967 to concentrate on his business. His first-team debut for Athletic was in 1948 and two years later was sold to Manchester City for £12,000 and after a stint at Port Vale, Bill returned to the Latics and was a member of the promoted team which went up from Division Four in 1962/63. Bill was recently inducted into the Guernsey Sporting Heroes Hall of Fame and leaves two sons, John and Roger, and a daughter Kay.
