Notts County are saddened to report the death of former player Eddie Russell.
Eddie, who was 89, was on the books at Meadow Lane for a brief period but never really established himself in the first team despite a physique - 6ft tall and weighing 13st 7lbs - making him the ideal build for a wing-half back (or midfielder in today's terms).
Born in Cranwell, Lincolnshire, in 1928, and a school teacher by profession, Eddie found limited opportunities at both Wolverhampton Wanderers, his first professional club, and Middlesbrough.
But he became something of a regular with Leicester City, to whom Notts paid a fee of £1,000 in the summer of 1958, and he made nine appearances in the Third Division in 1958-59, after relegation from the second tier at the end of the previous campaign.
He was retained for what turned out to be the promotion season from Division Four of 1959-60, when John Sheridan and Gerry Carver were the regular first choices in the half-back line. It turned out to be Eddie’s last season as a professional.
He had been living with dementia for the last few years, living in a care home where his room was decorated with photos of his footballing career.
Eddie will be cremated and buried at St Merryn church, Cornwall.
The club's thoughts are with Eddie's family at this sad time.