Football in mourning
THE global football community is in mourning after a highly respected player and international coach passed away this week in Townsville.
Ken Worden, 78, passed away in palliative care on Monday after succumbing to a major heart attack.
Worden was born in the English city of Preston in 1943 and showed great promise as a footballer from an early age.
Worden played for Burnley and Preston North End and rubbed shoulders with English greats Sir Stanley Matthews and Sir Tom Finney during the prime of his career.
He later moved to Australia with his wife Georgina and young children to continue his career.
Worden spent the majority of his playing career in Australia around Tasmania, taking to the pitch for clubs including Hobart Juventus, Hobart Olympia and Launceston Juventus.
He later moved to Townsville where he guided Townsville Kern United to premierships in 1982 and 1984.
When Worden retired from playing he went on to be one of the most respected coaches in Asia, becoming the head coach of both the Malaysia and Singapore national teams. He also won three Malaysian Cups, two Charity Shields and an FA Cup while coaching domestically.
Worden guided Malaysian club Selangor to three trophies from 1994 to 1996 and spent time coaching in Australia’s top competition at the time, the NSL.
“I went up to Malaysia a couple of times during his career there and he was like a god,” Worden’s best mate Frank Houston said.
“He had so much success there winning trophies.
“With the work Ken did up there he was recognised by the Royal King of Malaysia for his contribution to football.”
As a coach, Worden was known for demanding the best from his players.
“He was from the old school,” Mr Houston said.
“There was no such thing as coaching in those days, it was just work hard and get fit.
“His main asset was he was a born competitor.”
Worden will be farewelled by family and friends on Wednesday at Morley’s funeral home from 3pm.
His funeral is being lifestreamed around the world.