Frank Dudley

Frank Ernest Dudley (9 May 1925 – 14 September 2012) was an English professional footballer who played as a centre-forward for Southend United, Leeds United, Southampton, Cardiff City and Brentford. A versatile player who could play in any forward position, he scored 120 goals in 295 matches in the Football League during an eleven-year career. He was described by Jimmy Hill as "pacy, strong and gangly with a penchant for the unexpected".

Club career As a teenager, Dudley did not pursue a career in football due to his size, standing only 5 ft 4in at the age of 15, and rarely played the game growing up. However, during his wartime service with the Royal Air Force,

When the Football League returned following the end of World War II, Dudley made his professional debut in a match against Watford and became a first-team regular at Southend Stadium. He quickly attracted attention from several sides, including Cardiff City who had considered signing Dudley when they completed the signing of his teammate Stan Montgomery in 1948. He eventually joined Leeds United in August 1949 in a player swap deal that saw Albert Wakefield move in the opposite direction. He left the club after just four months to sign for Brentford.

Later life After retiring from playing professionally in 1956, Dudley played amateur football for local side Folkestone Town before becoming a qualified coach, working for Southend United as a youth coach between 1961 and 1965. During his later years, he became a shareholder at the club and was a season ticket holder. He began work as a clerk for the Southend Corporation in 1958 and also worked for the Southend cemeteries and cremation department for over two decades before retiring in 1985. He died on 14 September 2012 at the age of 87.