Famous Players – The 1950’s

Basil Haywood

Basil was an extremely versatile player who was comfortable playing anywhere across the back four or as a striker.  He joined the Vale in 1946 when he was just 16 years old and played regularly during the following 6 seasons mainly as a centre half or left back.

It was under Freddie Steele’s management in the 1952/53 season that Basil came into his own when he was given an attacking role and succeeded in scoring 22 goals in 39 appearances.  The following season he finished as Vale’s top scorer with 25 goals to his name as Vale won the Third Division North title and reached the semi-final of the FA Cup.

After one season playing as a striker in the second tier, he eventually returned to a more defensive role before being sold to Portsmouth in 1958 for what was described by the club as “a fair fee”.  He later played for and managed Yeovil Town in non-league and went on to manage Gillingham successfully for 5 seasons in Division Three.

Basil also played Minor County cricket for Staffordshire as a medium- fast left-arm bowler.

He died in 1989 aged 61.