Do you have any interesting, happy, or humorous memories of Bill?
If so, please let us know and we will be happy to share them with the world!
Dearden, Bill I played with Bill at Sheffield United. I was just 17 when I got into the first team. He looked after me and helped me immensely. He remains one of the nicest people I have ever had the good fortune to know. A true gentleman. Thanks for all of your good advice. God bless. John
09-02-23 John McGeady
Dearden, Bill We lived 2 doors up from Bill Dearden. We went to the same schools, Freehold and Hollinwood, and we were in the same class. Teachers used to let him out of lessons to practice for the school team.
09-02-23 Doreen Buckley
Dearden, Bill 1955. I was at Denton Lane school, aged 10. Denton Lane was just a couple of miles from Freehold School. My brother Anthony played for the school team and I used to practice with the team, even though all the players were older than me. Denton Lane had a very good team including Ken Fletcher, who later played for England schoolboys and was signed by Man city. They were unbeaten in Chadderton League and drew Freehold in the Clayton cup Semi final. The match was played on Freeholds home pitch on Block Lane. All the talk was of Billy Dearden and that Freehold were also unbeaten in the Oldham league. I remember watching the game and that Billy had broken his wrist and played with a small plaster cast on it. Billy was kept quiet all the match by Ken Fletcher playing at centre half for DentonLane. The game, unusually for schoolboy football ended 0-0. A replay was played the following Saturday and Freehold led by 1-0 when Denton Lane had a penalty about 10 minutes from the end. Fletcher usually took the pens but refused as did my brother and other players. It was left to one of the full backs , who put it over the bar. The game ended 1-0 and Freehold and Billy went on to win the cup at Boundary Park by an easy 4-0 win. I watched Billy play many times for Latics and also remember him managing Mansfield at Boundary Park. David Cain
16-02-22 David Cain
Dearden, Bill Hi Bill. Hope you and Judy are both ok, just thought I would drop you a line to make sure, I have not been in touch as I have been in hospital for the last 19 months after I was put into an induced coma for 5 weeks and caught sepsis and came very close 3 times to turning the lights out. Regards Andy
10-04-21 Andy Moran
Dearden, Bill Obviously had good times when you were manager at Mansfield Town and you may not remberer I was secretary then just wondered how you and Judith are. Think about you both. Take care x
31-08-20 Christine Reynolds
Stephen Harvey I went out with Bill's daughter at the sweet age of 16, samantha , back in 1982 . I am now 53. Little did she know my dad played with Gordon banks and they both went for trials for sheff united , neither got in .my dad had to go in the army but he was still a good goal keeper and he knew how to take penalty. He was 6ft tall and very athletic. He played rugby for sheffield tigers and was a brown belt at judo. Both my mum and dad have passed away now. I have two girls that went to university and have 1st class honor degree, I would to know how samantha is, I was very fond of her, but she packed me in for some reason
. I went on to become a printer and still mad on painting , mainly painting aircraft and steam trains. I hope Billy's family is well, kind regards steve harvey
23-08-20 Steve harvey
Dearden, Bill I was at school with Bill Dearden. He was football mad and very admired by all the teachers. A really nice person. Had a chat with him a year ago, we are both in our 70s now. Last saw him in 1960 but followed his career.
Dearden, Bill Grew up with Billy,has kid's together kicking a ball about as often as I we could.There used to be about sixteen of us,so we would have two teems of seven and games would last till dark set in and we couldn't see the ball. All the kids wanted to be on the same side as Billy Dearden as Billy was the star man.Billy had two older brothers Duncan and Frank and sometimes at weekends they would join in with the kids but they were quite a bit older than us.We not only played football on the SHODDEY as it was known(just of Gloucester street behind Billy's house house)but we played cricket/baseball and a game known as Peggy.They were brilliant happy day's in the fifties.I was at freehold school in Werneth Oldham with Billy but a little older than Bill but Billy was that good he played his football at all levels at school he was to good for us all.after leaving Freehold junior school we went on to Hollinwood senior school and again Billy was the star there and always making the headlines for his football and his achievements.Have followed Billy's career up to date and have many great memories of our boyhood days together I am now 75year's old but remember them day's(Happy Days)as though they were yesterday. Thanks Billy for so many happy memories.
Jim Wibberley
