Derby County Football Club has regretfully been informed of the passing of its former player Reg Harrison at the age of 97.
Reg, the last living member of the club’s FA Cup winning side from 1946 and the oldest living FA Cup winner, passed away peacefully on Thursday evening.
Derby-born Reg played the full game, at the age of just 22, in the Rams’ only ever FA Cup triumph as they defeated Charlton Athletic 4-1, after extra time, at Wembley Stadium just over 74 years ago.
A right winger by trade, he played 281 games for Derby at first-team level and scored 59 goals in an eleven-year spell between 1944-55.
During World War Two he served with the Royal Engineers, serving as an Army training officer based in England. He guested for Sheffield United, Notts County, Charlton Athletic and Hartlepools United during the war.
After retiring, he continued to inspire the future generations of players and supporters of Derby County and the City of Derby generally.
He worked for Derby City Council’s Youth Service and set up a Youth Centre on Stockbrook Recreation Ground in the late 1960s, which was known as 'Reg’s'. He later moved to Chaddesden as he set up the Chesapeake Youth Club and Football Club.
Derby City Council moved to recognise his outstanding achievements by awarding Reg the Freedom of the City in November 2018, which was followed by a formal presentation in early 2019.
The condolences of everyone at Derby County Football Club go out to the family and friends of Reg Harrison at this difficult time.
Rest in peace, Reg. We will miss you.