Chester FC are sorry to learn of the death of former wing-half Dave Durie who died at the end of August at the age of 85. A member of the 1964/65 team that scored 119 league goals he also played in the memorable Third Round FA Cup tie at Old Trafford in January 1965 when Peter Hauser's side were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Manchester United.

Dave Durie began his career as an inside left at Blackpool making his debut for the Seasiders in March 1953. After establishing himself in the line-up, towards the end of the 1955-56 season, he went on to make more than 300 appearances and score 84 league goals for his home town club. In 1957 he won representative honours for an FA X1, scoring four goals in a match against the RAF.

As a part-time professional he retired from football at the end of the 1963/64 season to concentrate on his business but returned to league football with Chester in September 1964 after his business was sold. Player-manager Peter Hauser, a former playing colleague at Blackpool, deployed Durie at left half where he formed an excellent partnership alongside John Butler and Hauser himself. As a player his seemingly telescopic legs gave him a distinctive running style and proved to be a big advantage in the tackle.

In over 400 first team games Durie had the proud distinction of never being booked or sent off and held firm religious beliefs. During his playing career he was a Methodist Sunday school teacher and leader in his local chapel. He never swore, and such were his convictions that he never played on religious days and this meant that the only match he missed for Chester in the 1964/65 season was the Good Friday fixture at Barrow.

After leaving Chester, at the end of the 1966/67 season, he joined Fleetwood Town as player-coach and also had a spell as manager until October 1968.On leaving football he worked as a school teacher and later ran a driving school.The club send out their condolences to his family and friends.

Chester Career Record
Football League – 87+2 appearances 4 goals
FA Cup – 6 appearances 0 goals
League Cup – 2 appearances 0 goal

First Chester game – v Hartlepools United (A) September 28th 1964
Last Chester game – v Bradford City (H) May 6th 1967

Chas Sumner [8/11/16]