Uncle Pat

Nick's uncle Pat passed away last Monday. Although Nick hasn't seen much of him in recent years, he was still sad to see him go. Pat was a good footballer in his youth, and reasonably well known. There were a couple of write-ups in the footballing news: Leyton Orient and Tottenham Hotspurs.

Reproduced below:
Leyton Orient:

Pat Welton

Posted on: Thu 01 Jul 2010

THE CLUB were saddened to learn of the death of former O's goalkeeper Pat Welton, who passed away on June 28, aged 82.

Welton played 281 games for the club between 1949 and 1958 and is known as one of Orient's finest goalkeepers of the post-war era.

Born in Eltham on May 3 1928, Pat started off with Chiselhurst FC before joining the O's in May 1949 as an amateur.

He was a PE teacher at a school in Highbury before turning pr

ofessional with the O's later that season.

Welton took over as the club's regular keeper in March 1950 and he remained the number one for the next six seasons, then sharing the green jersey with Dave Groombridge and Frank George between 1956 and 1958.

He was a member of the team that won the Third Division South championship in May 1956.

After leaving Brisbane Road in 1958, Welton went on to play for Queens Park Rangers before managing St Albans City and Walthamstow Avenue.

He then held a coaching position with the England youth side

and was assistant manager at Tottenham Hotspur before taking his skills overseas.

The club sends its deepest condolences to Pat's family and friends.

Tottenham Hotspurs:

Pat Welton

02 July 2010

We were saddened to hear that our former coach and assistant manager, Pat Welton, passed away on Monday. He was 82.

Pat coached successfully at Youth level for both England and Spurs and then stepped up to assist Keith Burkinshaw when he took over as manager in July, 1976.

After an impressive playing career as a goalkeeper, mainly with Orient and later Queens Park Rangers, Pat subsequently managed in non-league football with St Albans and Walthamstow Avenue.

As a player he was a member of the Orient team that won the Third Division (South) Championship in 1956.

However, his strength was in youth development and, as international manager, he led England to victory in the UEFA Championship at that level in 1963.

He continued that success when he became our first full-time youth manager in August, 1969, coaching our side to two FA Youth Cup triumphs in the early 1970s.

Moving up to the first team, he served the Club for four years - including our promotion back to the First Division in 1978. He later worked with Burkinshaw in Bahrain.

Pat will always be remembered at White Hart Lane not just for his professional ability but also as an extremely likeable personality. We extend our condolences to his family and friend at this sad time.