Paddy Ratcliffe Explained

Paddy Ratcliffe
Fullname:Patrick Christopher Ratcliffe
Birth Date:31 December 1919
Birth Place:Dublin, Ireland
Death Place:Los Angeles, United States of America
Death Date:March 1986
Position:Full back
Years1:1939–1946
Clubs1:Bohemian F.C.
Caps1:69
Goals1:2
Years2:1945–1946
Clubs2:Notts County
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:1946–1947
Clubs3:Wolverhampton Wanderers
Caps3:2
Goals3:0
Years4:1947–1955
Clubs4:Plymouth Argyle
Caps4:236
Goals4:10

Patrick Christopher Ratcliffe (born 31 December 1919 – died March 1986) was an Irish footballer who played as a full back.

His career as a professional started later than most because of the Second World War. He was injured in combat while serving for the Allies and spent two years in a Prisoner-of-war camp before returning home.[1] After hostilities had ceased, he briefly played for Bohemians in his homeland before moving to England to join Notts County, and moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers less than one year later.[2] Ratcliffe made two league appearances in the 1946–47 season before joining Plymouth Argyle, where he would eventually finish his career. A cultured, attacking full back,[1] who was also a capable penalty taker, he made 246 appearances in all competitions for the Pilgrims between 1947 and 1955, scoring ten goals, before retiring from the professional game at the age of 35.[3]

After leaving English football Paddy and his family decided to move to the United States. Paddy had married a Dublin woman named Olive Privett in 1946 and they set off for a new life in Los Angeles in 1957. They moved to the Lawndale area of Los Angeles with their four children (two girls and two boys) and Paddy began a career in the printing business, becoming print foreman of Palos Verdes newspapers and occasionally penning articles in its pages about football. Paddy also continued playing for a Los Angeles Danish side well after his 40th birthday, only hanging up his boots in 1962. He was also involved in coaching young American talent in football.[4]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.greensonscreen.co.uk/gosdb-players2.asp?pid=684&scp=1,2,5,6,7 "Paddy Ratcliffe"
  2. http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/wolves/wolves.html "Wolverhampton Wanderers"
  3. http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/plymouth/plymouth.html "Plymouth Argyle"
  4. https://abohemiansportinglife.wordpress.com/tag/paddy-ratcliffe/ "A Bohemian Sporting Life"