Cyril Lawrence facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Cyril Lawrence | ||
| Date of birth | 12 June 1920 | ||
| Place of birth | Salford, England | ||
| Date of death | 14 April 2020 (aged 99) | ||
| Place of death | Farnworth, England | ||
| Playing position | Winger | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1938–1939 | Blackpool | 0 | (0) |
| 1947–1950 | Rochdale | 44 | (5) |
| 1950–1952 | Wrexham | 50 | (9) |
|
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Cyril Lawrence (born June 12, 1920 – died April 14, 2020) was an English professional footballer. He played as a winger, which is a player who runs down the sides of the field. Cyril played for several teams in the English football league. These included Blackpool, Rochdale, and Wrexham. His life was quite extraordinary, combining a sports career with service in a major world war.
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Cyril Lawrence: Footballer and War Hero
Cyril Lawrence was a talented footballer. But his career was put on hold by a huge global event. He became a hero during World War II.
Early Life and Starting Football
Cyril Lawrence was born in Salford, England, on June 12, 1920. He grew up with a love for football. He started his professional career with Blackpool in 1938. He was a young player with a lot of promise.
Serving His Country in World War II
When World War II began, Cyril joined the Royal Navy. He became a gunner on a powerful warship. This ship was called the King George V-class battleship. He traveled to many parts of the world.
He served in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. He also went to the Arctic and Pacific Oceans. Cyril was part of some very important missions. He helped chase down the German battleship Bismarck. This was a famous naval battle.
Cyril also took part in Arctic convoys. These were dangerous trips to deliver supplies to the Soviets. Later, he was involved in the Battle of Okinawa. This was a huge battle in the Pacific. He was even there for the final surrender of Japan. This ended the war.
Back to Football After the War
While on leave from the Navy in 1944, Cyril married his wife, Clara. After the war ended, he returned to his football career. He left Blackpool and joined Rochdale in 1947. He played for Rochdale until 1950.
After Rochdale, Cyril moved to Wrexham. He played there for two years, from 1950 to 1952. He then retired from playing professional football.
Later Years and Legacy
Even after retiring, Cyril stayed connected to football. In 2017, when he was 97 years old, he visited Spotland Stadium. This is the home stadium of Rochdale. It was a special visit for him.
Cyril Lawrence lived a very long life. He passed away on April 14, 2020, at the age of 99. He died in Farnworth, England. He had contracted a sickness called COVID-19 during the global pandemic. Cyril Lawrence will always be remembered as a dedicated footballer and a brave war veteran.
