Gordon Sturtridge

Gordon Henry Sturtridge (1929 – December 9, 1956) was a professional Canadian football player, and was one of 62 people who died on Trans-Canada Air Lines Flight 810, on December 9, 1956.

Sturtridge played his entire five-year professional football career as a defensive end for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Western Interprovincial Football Union, and his #73 jersey is one of eight that has been retired by the club.

Amateur football career Sturtridge played amateur Canadian football in the Canadian Junior Football League, and was a member of the Winnipeg Rods.

Professional career Sturtridge signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders where he starred for four years. He was a three-time Western All-Star (in 1954, 1955, and 1956), and was on his way back to Regina, Saskatchewan, on Trans-Canada Air Lines Flight 810 after playing in the Shrine Game in Vancouver, British Columbia, on December 8, 1956.

Gordon and Mildred were survived by their three young children who were home in Regina at the time of the crash.

Legacy In 1957, a youth football league in North Vancouver, British Columbia was named in memory of Sturtridge. The Gordon Sturtridge Football League is for players aged 6 to 15.