Vernon Avis Explained

Vernon Avis
Fullname:Vernon Charles Sidney Avis
Birth Date:24 October 1935
Birth Place:Marylebone, England
Death Place:Northampton, England
Position:Left back, centre forward
Youthyears1:1952–1953
Youthclubs1:Brentford
Years1:1953–1961
Clubs1:Brentford
Caps1:19
Goals1:0
Years2:1961–1966
Clubs2:Bedford Town
Caps2:179
Goals2:2
Clubs3:Rushden Town
Manageryears1:1967
Managerclubs1:Bedford Town (caretaker)

Vernon Charles Sidney Avis (24 October 1935 – June 1996) was an English footballer who played as a left back in the Football League for Brentford.

Playing career

Brentford

Avis began his career in the youth team at Second Division club Brentford.[1] He made his debut at age 18 in a 0–0 draw with Stoke City at Griffin Park on 12 December 1953.[2] Due to national service and with Ken Coote ahead of him in the pecking order,[3] [4] Avis spent much of his subsequent Griffin Park career in the reserve team. His best first team appearance tally was 11, in the 1959–60 Third Division season. He departed the club in 1961, after making just 19 appearances.

Bedford Town

Avis dropped into non-League football and signed for Southern League Premier Division club Bedford Town in 1961.[5] A left back by trade, Avis spent an early part of his Bedford career at centre forward.[6] He made nearly 200 appearances over the course of five seasons, before hanging up his boots at the end of the 1965–66 campaign. Avis played two matches during the 1966–67 season as an emergency replacement. He left the club in 1967 and joined United Counties League First Division club Rushden Town.

Managerial and coaching career

Avis became the trainer at Bedford Town in 1966, and stepped in as caretaker manager in April 1967.[7] He departed the club when Ron Heckman was appointed first team manager later that month.

Career statistics

Club! rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Brentford1953–54Second Division100010
1956–57Third Division South100010
1959–60Third Division11000110
1960–61Third Division60000060
Career total1900000190

Notes and References

  1. Book: Haynes, Graham . Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 . Coumbe . Frank . Yore Publications . 2006 . 978-0955294914 . 14.
  2. Book: 100 Years Of Brentford . Brentford FC . 1989 . 0951526200 . White . Eric . 382–386.
  3. Web site: Sands of Time: Ground number 80 . 25 July 2014 . Get West London.
  4. Book: Official Progamme – Brentford Football Club vs Swindon Town – Season 1956–57 . 21 August 1956 . 5.
  5. Web site: Best Years Players A-B . 25 July 2014 . bedfordoldeagles.
  6. Web site: 1961/2 in photos . 25 July 2014 . bedfordoldeagles.
  7. Web site: 1966/7 Summary . 25 July 2014 . bedfordoldeagles.