Ken McPherson RIP: Ken’s Funeral Arrangements Announced

We have now to hand the details of the funeral of former CCFC striker (1955-58) and the Association’s second oldest member, Ken McPherson who passed away on the 5th February aged 90. CCFPA extends his condolences to son Dean and the rest of Ken’s family and friends.

Ken’s funeral will be held on Thursday 15 March at Nottingham’s Wilford Hill Crematorium (Loughborough Road West Bridgford NG2 7FE  Tel. 0115 915 2340). The service will begin at 12.40pm. The Association hopes to be represented at the ceremony by committee member Mike Young amongst others.

A former paratrooper when doing his National Service, Ken was a big strong ‘traditional’ leader of the Bantam’s forward line in the late 50s when City languished in the old Division Three South. Born in West Hartlepool he had played for local clubs Hordern Colliery Welfare and Hartlepools United as an amateur before moving south to understudy Tommy Lawton at Notts County in August 1950 and netted 14 goals in his 30 appearances for the Magpies. He moved back to the north-east with Middlesbrough in July 1953 for £15k where he scored another 15 goals in 33 outings. It was from there that CCFC’s manager Jesse Carver (before being replaced by George Raynor) brought Ken to Highfield Road to bolster our attack in a more direct style of play. Ken scored on his debut in a 3-0 win at Highfield Road over Newport County on 1oth December 1955!

In all, over three CCFC seasons, Ken netted 40 times in his 91 CCFC league and cup appearances – a great scoring ratio. However in 1957-58 his goals dried up, Ray Straw took over the goalscoring mantle and Ken was moved on to Newport County in June 1958 where his goalscoring prowess returned (57 in 138 appearances). In June 1961 Ken was a bit of a groundbreaker for the time in moving to the States to sign for the New York Americans for the summer. Returning to the UK with Swindon Town in August 1961 (£2.5k) Ken reverted to the centre half slot and still scored six times in his 121 appearances until he retired in 1965 working as a progess chaser at Austin Morris Coventry Engines (part of the British Leyland group) then, after the plant closed, worked a hospital porter until finally retiring. He lived his later years in Nottingham.

Ken attacks Southampton’s goal at Highfield Road (August 1956)

A fuller tribute to Ken by CCFC official club historian and CCFPA chairman Jim Brown now appears under the ‘Gone But not Forgotten’ section on this site (click on the ‘Players’ tab above) in due course.