Harry, who became known as “The General” will be remembered as a legendary figure at Heys whose achievements as a player and Captain were a huge part of the club’s success and dominance of the Swinging Sixties and early seventies as they emerged as one of the country's leading amateur clubs.

He joined Heys in the summer of 1963. His signing was regarded as something of a coup as Harry had already established his name on the local football scene on the largely cinder pitches of the Salford Sunday League. Signed for his defensive capabilities Harry showed an eye for goal too, scoring seventeen goals in a season that saw Heys sweep to the South East Lancashire League title. One of those goals was in an FA Amateur Cup tie with the then mighty West Auckland Town, in a match played at St. Mary’s Park, with temporary stands provided by Prestwich Borough Council to accommodate the crowd. In many ways the season was a peek into the future with Peter Gilmour and Tommy Kaye amongst the goals, the early signs of the great team Harry was to Captain were developing.

Heys rose from the South East Lancashire League, through the Manchester League and into the Lancashire Combination. However, it was in the FA Amateur Cup that Harry and Heys made their names with memorable games against the likes of Highgate United, Finchley, Southall and Sutton United putting the club on the National map, with crowds as high as 4.000 flocking to Grimshaws to watch them play. In 1970 Heys reached the quarter-finals before losing 1-0 to eventual winners Enfield. During this period the club also won the Lancashire Amateur Cup in 1967.

Although those Cup exploits gathered the headlines, Heys greatest season came in 1970-71 in the Lancashire Combination. It is worth noting at this time there was no National league or non-league pyramid. The Lancashire Combination was separated from the Football League by only the Northern Premier League. In that season, with Harry as Captain and playing 47 of the 55 games played, scoring four goals, Heys became the only side in the history of the competition to win all four trophies available to them, the League, League Cup, Challenge Cup and George Watson Trophy.

The constant throughout this heady decade was Harry, not just a great player, but a true leader, described as a “stylist supreme” and “the “General”. He was a defensive rock. A machine with no obvious weakness. Strong in the tackle, his defensive partnership with Andy Povall was once described as being “maybe the smallest but the most ruthlessly efficient combination around.” It was taken as a given that you may get past one of them, but not the other.

Harry’s ability was recognised at County level as he represented and captained the Manchester County FA side. He also was also invited to the FA Select side, whilst at club level he was awarded the Butterworth Player-Clubman Trophy in 1971.

The onset of professionalism and the changing nature of the Non-league structure was to lead to the gradual break up of this famous side but, Harry, the true Captain, was amongst the last to depart, in 1973.

His heart remained with Heys though, his house overlooked the Grimshaws ground. In the late 80’s his son Dean, played for Heys, and for one day, in a charity match Father and Son captained the opposing sides. In his later years Harry was still to be seen in the Coach and Horses, despite his health, talking about his time with Heys, with a twinkle in his eyes.

Harry will forever hold a place in Heys hearts and history, a symbol of different times, a different Prestwich but a member of a golden generation who catapulted the club and the town onto the national stage.

We send our sincere condolences to his Family and friends at this sad time.

Rest in Peace Harry, forever “The General”.