More than 2,000 football fans held a minute's silence for one of their amateur team's greatest stars after reports of his death, only for his 'widow' to tell them he was alive and living in Kent. Tommy Farrer, 86, starred for Bishop Auckland FC, known as the Two Blues, in the years after the Second World War. He also won 20 caps for England at amateur level.
After reports that he was dead, the club noted the sad details in their match day programme and held a silence before their latest game. They even arranged for a tribute to appear in a local newspaper.
Club chairman Terry Jackson then telephoned Mr Farrer's wife Gladys, 87, to offer the club's condolences.
But Mrs Farrer told the stunned chairman he could pass on his comments to her husband himself, adding: "He will be back in a minute. He's only popped out to get a paper."
The couple, who now live in Maidstone, Kent, have just celebrated their 65th anniversary and took reports of Mr Farrer's death in good spirits.
Mr Farrer said: "I'm very moved that they went to such trouble for me, I played for them a very long time ago.
"Whoever it was who told people I had died obviously contacted the local football ground and they decided to go the whole hog by arranging the silence.
"We are not upset, but we did think it was a bit of a joke at first."
Mrs Farrer, 87, said: "We are very sorry people have had all this hassle but Tommy is fine."
The ex-player said he was particularly touched by a tribute in the match day programme which said: "Some bad news. We have just learnt of the death of Two Blues legend Tommy Farrer who, although born in the south, lived in Bishop Auckland for some years. Our thoughts go to his family and friends."
Mr Farrer, a grandfather and former clothing designer, played for the team from 1945 to 1953 which was described as "a golden age when the team reigned supreme as the greatest amateur side of its generation".
He captained the team when it took on a barefoot Nigerian XI at the town's Kingsway ground in 1949.
Mr Jackson said: "It is the first and, hopefully, the last time something like this has happened, and it was done with the best intentions.
"The news came via Bishop Auckland Social Club and we took it very seriously. We thought it was very clear.
"But we're glad to hear that Tommy is still with us and hope he remains in good health for many years to come."
After leaving Bishop Auckland FC, Mr Farrer joined Walthamstow, now known as Dagenham and Redbridge, before retiring from football.
Source: Telegraph
