Ex-Bolton Wanderers, Shrewsbury & Tranmere defender Syd Farrimond dies, aged 81

Succeeding the great Tommy Banks, the Hindley-born defender made 404 appearances for Bolton between October 1958 and November 1970, After leaving Burnden Park, Farrimond had spells at Shrewsbury Town, Tranmere Rovers and Halifax Town before moving into full-time coaching with Sunderland and Leeds United.

Once he had retired from football Farrimond worked at Wanderers as a member of the corporate hospitality team at the Reebok.

More recently, he was diagnosed with dementia and has been a regular attendee at Bolton Wanderers in the Community’s Sporting Memories sessions.

Farrimond made his way in the game after being spotted playing for the Moss Lane Youth Club in 1956 and two years later won England youth honours playing in the same side as Warwick Rimmer.

His 13-year Bolton career began with an appearance against Preston North End in the old First Division but he did not become a regular in the side until Banks’ retirement in the 1961/62 season.

He scored just once, against Norwich City in March 1967, and remained a key figure in the side throughout the sixties until he was awarded a free transfer after a dispute over a loyalty bonus.

Former team-mate and work colleague, Ian Seddon, said Farrimond would be missed by many.

"Syd was 10 years older than me so I first came across him towards the end of his career," he said. "He was a real gentleman, a lovely bloke who had some great one-liners.

"But having played a few games with him, I promise you he was a fiery character too, never that far away from a booking. I think he must have ate the same food that Tommy (Banks) did.

"He had a great left foot - even though there were a few shots that swerved into the stands. I think he only scored once after somehow finding himself in the penalty box.

"People might not know but he would also go in goal if there was an injury to Hoppy (Eddie Hopkinson) or the like. I remember him telling me about a time at Arsenal where he ran to put on the keeper's jersey and then turned to the goals and thought 'are they always that big?'

"Later on he served on the ex-players' committee until his health wouldn't allow but for many years he worked on the hospitality and PR side at Bolton and he was a great greeter of people. He always made sure they enjoyed their day.

"He will be really missed." 

Another of Farrimond's former team-mates, Dave Hatton, recalled the ribbing he took in the Bolton dressing room after an FA Cup game against Liverpool at Burnden.

"It was going dark, late in the game and they swung a cross in for Ian Callaghan to beat Syd and score with a header," he said. "For years afterwards we'd remind him about it and pull his leg.

"He was a smashing bloke and a good friend. Not the biggest player in the world but he could handle himself. In fact, I think the only people with a bad word to say about Syd would be the right wingers who he knocked down the sidelines at Burnden Park; there were plenty of those."

Hatton, who captained Bolton in an eight-year spell at the club between 1961 and 1969, became good friends off the pitch with Farrimond.

"When we travelled abroad to places like Holland he would be my room-mate," he said. "We always got on.

"After he left the club there was a spell when we didn't really stay in touch as much but after a while we'd see each other at Christmas parties for the ex-players and played some bowls together at Little Lever.

"When his wife, Olive, sadly passed away we went to see him with his daughter in Leigh and had a walk.

"It has been sad to see him slip away but they are such a lovely family."

Hatton looked back at better times when Farrimond showed his fiery side to former Bolton boss, and club legend, Nat Lofthouse.

"He wanted to leave to go to Tranmere but Lofty wouldn't let him," he said. "I remember him standing up and saying 'this lot might call you Lofthouse but that's not what I call you!"

Farrimond is survived by a daughter and a son.