Blues star dies at 76
AFOOTBALL ER who was a Manchester City star in the 1950s has passed away at his home in Italy.
Dennis Fidler, 76, who was born in Reddish and later lived in Bramhall, appeared five times for the club at the start of his professional career in the late 1950s.
He also played for Manchester United’s youth team, alongside legends including Bobby Charlton, and was involved in two successive FA Youth Cup final victories, against West Bromwich Albion in 1955 and Chesterfield in 1956.
He signed for City in 1956 and turned professional at Maine Road the following year.
His senior debut took place in October 1957 against Luton Town.
Dennis scored his first professional goal against Leeds United, before later making his final appearance with the club against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
He went on to play for Port Vale, Grimsby Town, Halifax Town, Darlington and Macclesfield Town throughout his 17- year playing career.
In 356 professional appearances with the various clubs, the left winger scored 88 goals.
During a short stint with Grimsby Town, which paid £ 2,000 for him in 1961, Dennis scored three goals in nine Third Division games and was with the club when it was promoted in the 1961-62 season.
At Macclesfield, he was made captain and was a member of the Northern Premier League championship side in 1968- 69 and 196970.
He won a winner’s medal from the FA Trophy in 1970, three winner’s medals in the Cheshire Senior Cup in 1969, 1971 and 1973, and was a member of the team that won the North West Floodlit League in 1969- 70.
After retiring from football, Dennis became involved in his family’s fish business and was a well-known face at the Fidlers for fish shop in Bramhall.
He has lived in Italy with wife Christine since emigrating in the 1990s. He died at his home on June 2.
His cousin Roy Fidler, who still lives in Bramhall, said: “Dennis was a very pleasant man. He was very popular as a young man.
“He was very outgoing and he knew everyone
“He had an Italian car and he loved Italy, he was very happy to be in Italy.”