Join us in wishing Calvin Symonds, the first black player for Rochdale in the Football League, a happy 89th birthday. Born on 29th March 1932 in Bermuda, Calvin secured his place in Rochdale history on 15th September 1955 in an away game at Barrow.
But Calvin is far better known on Bermuda as a cricketer and must be one of the few men alive who can claim to have taken the wickets of leading England batsmen Denis Compton and Tom Graveney in a competitive game (he also took the wickets of Fred Trueman, Jim Laker and Tony Lock in the same game, three players better known for their bowling than their batting).
It was our very great pleasure to see Calvin live on a Bermuda TV show a few days ago, he is in great shape and looking very dapper! He even got in a plug for Football’s Black Pioneers – good man, Calvin!
