George Haigh

Career Haigh's career started at Manchester City in 1931, as a junior. He played in the reserves alongside Frank Swift, but when Swift was promoted to the senior side, Haigh stayed where he was. During his time at City, he also worked in a dying and bleaching factory. In 1936, he joined Stockport County, where he played at all levels for County, from the A team right up to the first team. Haigh had the misfortune to score an own goal on his debut for County, and made a second league appearance before the outbreak of the Second World War.

In 1940, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force, serving as a physical training instructor and was stationed at RAF Morecambe and RAF Wilmslow, where he trained new recruits and parachutists. and was regraded as a pilot officer (on probation) on 20 August. Whilst at Morecambe, he played for the services team as well as the town's football team, and in 1942, joined Rochdale. Rochdale often played Blackpool, and Haigh was usually tasked to mark Stanley Matthews. He was promoted to flight lieutenant (war-substantive) on 11 September 1944, and was mentioned in despatches in 1945, ending his service with the rank of squadron leader.

In 1945, he was offered the player-manager position at Arbroath, but Haigh decided to join Lancaster City as they had offered him a trade as a metal spinner, as well as the captaincy of the team. effectively ending his career in football. Haigh suffered from age-related macular degeneration and, until at least 2015, received support from Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.