RICHARD ORRELL

(also known as Dicky)

Born: 04 November 1875

Came from: Preston North End   Went to: Oldham Athletic

First game: 01 September 1906   Last game: 27 April 1907

Appearances: 44 (44/0)   Goals: 0

Born in Farington, Lancashire, a village in what is now the borough of South Ribble, near Preston, originally a cotton weaver, he began his footballing career with his local club, making 140 appearances over six seasons for Preston North End between 1899 and 1906. A versatile back, he was capable of playing on either side.

Often known as Dicky, he moved to Home Park under William Fullarton, who was in charge for just one season. Orrell became an ever-present during the 1906-07 campaign, making 44 appearances across the Southern and Western League competitions. The club handbook described him as "a safe and sure back, unostentatious in every degree but absolutely reliable under all conditions. Is of necessity bound to make his personality felt".

After just one season at Home Park, he returned to the north-west, initially joining Oldham Athletic before re-registering with Preston, although he made no further appearances for either club. He was subsequently granted a free transfer and finished his career with Southport Central, the club that would later become Southport. At Haig Avenue, he made 77 appearances in the Lancashire Combination Division One across the 1907-08 and 1908-09 seasons. Southport were subsequently elected to the Football League's Third Division North in 1921.

He then wound down his career with spells at Great Harwood (1909-10) and Higher Walton Albion (1911), before returning to Great Harwood for a final spell later that year.

During the First World War, he served as a Private, initially with the West Yorkshire Regiment (service number 76669), before transferring to the Army Service Corps (T/452809). His subsequent service with the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC), 2nd Training Battalion, is recorded under service number 128715. He received the British War Medal (1914-1920) and the Victory Medal (1914-1919), commonly known together as the British War and Victory pair.

Following the Armistice, he made a remarkable return to league football with Blackpool during the 1918-19 season. Stationed with the RAMC at Blackpool, he was among the servicemen who helped supplement the club's depleted wartime playing resources, alongside a small nucleus of regular players and occasional guest players. The RAMC depot at Squires Gate provided a further source of players. Nearly fifteen years after his previous Football League appearance, he featured in several matches, aged 43, and reportedly played in a style reminiscent of his best days.

He was discharged from the RAMC shortly afterwards and returned to his former occupation as a cotton weaver in Walton-le-Dale. Living at 42 Foundry Cottages, Higher Walton, his health deteriorated and he was taken to the Infirmary in Preston for treatment. He died in June 1919, aged 43. His death certificate recorded the causes as carcinoma of the stomach (stomach cancer) and exhaustion.

Although the hostilities had ended and he had been discharged from military service, he is nevertheless commemorated with a Commonwealth War Grave, as a casualty of war. This is not unusual: the First World War commemoration period extended to 31 August 1921, and servicemen discharged before that date could still qualify where their deaths were attributable to wounds received or illness contracted during service, or to a condition aggravated by their service. His commemoration indicates that his death was accepted as meeting the relevant eligibility criteria.

Private R. Orrell (128715) of the Royal Army Medical Corps is buried at All Saints Churchyard, Higher Walton, in the borough of South Ribble, Lancashire.