FORMER Huddersfield Town keeper, Emley coach and Huddersfield League cricketer Harry Fearnley has died at his home in Poole, Dorset, aged 77.

Signed from his hometown club Penistone Church in 1951, he made his Town debut during the 1955-56 top-flight campaign.

Fearnley faced tough competition for the keeper’s shirt from the likes of Sandy Kennon and ex-Manchester United man Ray Wood.

But he still made 103 appearances before a £3,500 transfer took him to Football League new boys Oxford United in October 1963.

Playing alongside Ron Atkinson, Fearnley helped Oxford make the FA Cup quarter-finals in 1963-64 and win promotion from Division IV the season after.

He joined Doncaster Rovers in February 1966 and helped them win the Fourth Division title that year.

Fearnley then became coach of Emley as they enjoyed success in both the Yorkshire League and old FA Amateur Cup.

A talented pace bowler, Fearnley skippered the Huddersfield League representative side and his clubs included Holmfirth, Paddock, Thongsbridge, Marsden and Lascelles Hall.