Cliff Thorley

Playing career Thorley was born in Wath, and began his football career with Frickley Colliery, before turning professional with Sunderland at age 17.

Whilst playing for Frickley he captained Yorkshire and represented his county on multiple occasions. One year later he joined Hull City, and then played for Kidderminster Harriers in the Birmingham league before joining Cheltenham Town.

Thorley was a very popular player in Cheltenham. He played in 37 of 38 League and Cup matches—missing only one because of a severe cold—and scoring 13 times. Wrote the Gloucestershire Echo, "One of the fastest wingers ever to assist Cheltenham Town, Thorley is the possessor of a devastating shot which, with his remarkable speed, has caused defences many anxious times." Thorley, then 22, was transferred to Bristol City in 1938.

In 1939, he made a shock decision to retire from professional football at a young age to become a policeman in Huddersfield.