Tony Green

Blackpool Green transferred just before the end of the season in May 1967 to Blackpool for an initial £13,500 on a four-year contract. Albion would receive a further £2,000 when he had played in twenty first-team games. Blackpool were already condemned to relegation from the top flight when Green debuted in the last game of the season 3–1 defeat away to Liverpool.

His enduring recollection of his time at Bloomfield Road was being denied promotion back to the top flight on goal difference in season 1967–68 finishing third behind Ipswich Town and Queen's Park Rangers. "We'd won at Huddersfield and thought we were up. Our supporters crowded onto the field and were going daft but we got back in the dressing room to find that QPR had scored a winner in the last minute against Aston Villa. They'd been losing with ten minutes left," said Green.

Green suffered an Achilles injury that kept him out of the game for a year. In his time out the team Blackpool won promotion back to the top flight. His return to the fold came on 19 September 1970 for the visit of Everton to Bloomfield Road. Blackpool were relegated at the end of that season back in the top tier. In their last league game of the season Green scored in the 1–1 draw against Manchester United.

Blackpool that season won the 1971 Anglo-Italian Cup. Blackpool defeated A.S. Roma and Hellas Verona both in Italy to earn a trip away to play at AC Bologna in the final. Blackpool came from behind to win 2–1.

Green was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Bloomfield Road, when it was officially opened by former Blackpool player Jimmy Armfield in April 2006.

Newcastle United In the month of his 25th birthday, October 1971 after him putting in a transfer request, on 30 October 1971. The 1–0 defeat put Newcastle bottom of England's top tier at that time after what had been their fifth consecutive defeat. Green scored though in the next game, a 3–1 home win against Southampton. Macdonald with 30 goals from 52 games was the primary beneficiary of the team's attacking skills. Green was the brains and drive of the team.

On 2 September 1972 Green suffered a knee cartilage injury that ultimately ended his professional football career the month before his 26th birthday. His competitive career at Newcastle lasted only 39 games (33 in the league) spanning 11 months in which he was idolised by the Geordie fans.

United got their £150,000 back through an insurance company after Green's retirement at Christmas 1973, but it was little consolation. Newcastle manager Joe Harvey said: "After they made Tony Green, they threw away the mould. I couldn't hope to buy a similar player, not even for twice the amount." Harvey said of the day of Green's retirement from football, "It was the saddest day of my life. He was my very best buy."

In 2008 Green said: "You think about things for about six months, and you look back wistfully. But in a way, I'm glad that if I had to finish like I did, I did it at Newcastle. I had a chance to play for a big club every week, in front of big crowds. You can't regret that. I'd have loved to have played on, but if you keep looking back it would drive you crackers."

After playing After his football career ended Green became a maths teacher. He taught at Hodgson High School in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, and later at Millfield High School, in nearby Thornton.

Between 1975 and 2022, he served on the Pools Panel, a three-strong panel of experts who predict results of postponed football fixtures.

He currently lives in Poulton-le-Fylde with his wife, Christine.

Honours

Blackpool – 1971 Anglo-Italian Cup