SPORT OBITUARY: UNASSUMING ERIC WAS TRUE ALL-ROUNDER, WRITES ALAN BENSTED

By the death of the quiet, unassuming Eric Cousans, Canterbury has lost another all-round sportsman whose deeds lit up the mid-20th century. As a part-time professional footballer for Canterbury City at Brett’s Corner (now Morrisons supermarket) he was a typical old-fashioned left-winger. Wearing a green and white shirt with No.11 on the back, he hugged the touchline (it was before England World Cup triumph of 1966). In those days wingers were not expected to track back as an additional defender. With his speed and ball control Eric skinned many a full-back before sending over an accurate cross or, with his trusty left foot, a cannonball shot. Before his Football League career with Doncaster Rovers and Walsall, Eric had played for Goole Town, where he broke a leg in a tackle with Fred Trueman, the great England fast bowler. After a spell with Gillingham, Eric joined Dover in the Kent League, then signed foe Canterbury. His transfer (so Roy Evans, the City manager at the time, told me) cost the princely sum of £35 – a lot of money in those days – which needed the approval of City chairman Jack Snell. But Eric’s football career was cut short when he again broke a leg, in a match with Folkestone at Cheriton Road. This time the tackle was with one of the Tredwell sporting family. During the summer Eric’s love was cricket. Being a Yorkshireman, he was a watchful batsman, strong off the back foot and quick between wickets. He did particularly well with the Mounts club, often winners of the Gazette Evening League (long before Twenty20 was thought of). At weekends he played for Canterbury Municipal on Saturday and Kingsfords (later Canterbury Cavaliers) on Sunday. It was a privilege to share the crease with him . Bowling left-arm medium for Kingsfords at the Victoria Rec, Eric was once full of apologies for dismissing Chartham’s last batsman – because it denied the late Brian Finbow all 10 wickets. After cricket Eric concentrated on golf, enjoying over 30 years as a member at Canterbury and achieving a single-figure handicap. Eric’s less energetic pastime was art, exhibiting his work at many venues. He set up and ran a successful chiropodist’s business from his Station Road West home. He started the business after taking advantage of Football Association funding to become trained in chiropody and physiotherapy. Eric, who retired in 2001, died in a care home near Chingford. Aged 89, he leaves a son, Graham, and daughter, Helen, and four