Elliot "Tony" Macedo (22 February 1938 – 2024) was a professional association footballer who played as a goalkeeper, spending nearly his whole career at Fulham. He made 346 league appearances and played a total of 391 matches in all competitions. He ended his career in 1968 after suffering a string of injuries.[1] Born in Gibraltar, he represented the England U23s.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Elliot Macedo | ||
| Date of birth | 22 February 1938 | ||
| Place of birth | Gibraltar | ||
| Date of death | 2024 (aged 86) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1955–1957 | Fulham | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1955–1968 | Fulham | 346 | (0) |
| 1961 | → Montreal Concordia (loan) | ||
| 1968–1969 | Colchester United | 38 | (0) |
| 1969–1971 | Durban City | 35 | (0) |
| 1971–1973 | Highlands Power | 59 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 1959–1961 | England U23 | 10 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
editMacedo was born in Gibraltar in 1938 of British Gibraltarian parents. Macedo joined Fulham as a youth team player in 1955. He made his debut for the first team in a match against Bristol City in December 1957. Following his debut he went on to establish himself as the club's number one goalkeeper. He was part of the side that reached the semi-final of the FA Cup in 1958 and 1962. In 1958, he played a crucial role in Fulham's successful promotion to the First Division. He played in each of Fulham's nine successive seasons in the First Division. A series of injuries - including a backpass from Tosh Chamberlain breaking his ribs - reduced his appearances towards the end of the decade.[1][2] He spent one season at Colchester United, making 38 appearances, before retiring at the premature age of 31. He emigrated to South Africa, where he has lived ever since.[3][4] He was considered the "finest 'keeper never to win a full England cap",[5] if it was not for his ineligibility, having been born in Gibraltar, who did not become members of UEFA until 2013[6] and remained unrecognised territory by FIFA until 13 May 2016.[7]
He is remembered as being part a series of great Fulham sides which included individuals such as George Cohen, Jim Langley, Alan Mullery, Bobby Robson, Rodney Marsh and Bedford Jezzard, as well as Fulham's greatest ever player Johnny Haynes.[8]
Death
editIn June 2024, Fulham announced that Macedo had died. He was survived by his wife Margaret, children Donna and Mark, and grandchildren.[9]
Honours
editFulham[10]
- Football League Second Division runner-up: 1958–59
References
edit- ^ a b "Edwin van der Sar and Tony Macedo". Times Online. Times Newspaper Ltd. 15 January 2005. Retrieved 2 February 2011.[dead link]
- ^ "Frank Keating: A celebration: April 4, 1975". Guardian Online. Guardian News and Media Ltd. 7 October 2002. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ Struthers, Greg (18 July 2004). "Caught in Time: Fulham celebrate life in the First Division, 1960-61". Times Online. Times Media Ltd. Retrieved 2 February 2011.[dead link]
- ^ Hudson, Matt. "The 1950s and 1960s". Colchester United F.C. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ "Reluctant Hero". Fulham F.C. 29 November 2011. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ "Congress decisions bring Gibraltar on board". UEFA. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ "Member Associations". Archived from the original on 10 June 2016.
- ^ Parkinson, Michael (24 October 2005). "Haynes the genius reminds us of when football was fun". Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ "Tony Macedo: 1938–2024". Fulham F.C. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "Tier Two (Championship) Honours". Coludaybyday.co.uk.