Michael Douglas Tiddy (4 April 1929 – 25 November 2009) was an English professional football player and manager.

Mike Tiddy
Tiddy in 1958
Personal information
Full name Michael Douglas Tiddy
Date of birth (1929-04-04)4 April 1929
Place of birth Cadgwith, England
Date of death 25 November 2009(2009-11-25) (aged 80)
Place of death Truro, England
Position(s) Winger
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1946–1950 Torquay United 5 (0)
1950–1955 Cardiff City 145 (19)
1955–1958 Arsenal 48 (8)
1958–1962 Brighton & Hove Albion 133 (11)
1962–1964 Penzance
1964–1965 Helston Athletic
1965–1969 Falmouth Town 84 (37)
1969–? Porthleven
Managerial career
1962–1964 Penzance
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Born in Cadgwith, Cornwall, Tiddy, the older of two footballing brothers joined Torquay United at the end of World War II but was forced to wait two years to play for the club while he finished his National Service. He left Torquay in November 1950 to sign for Cardiff City and he became a virtual ever-present in the Cardiff line-up for the next five years, and was one of the club's most popular players during the 1950s before moving to Arsenal in 1955 along with Gordon Nutt in exchange for Brian Walsh.

Tiddy made his debut against Sunderland on 24 September 1955 but most of his time in London was spent in the treatment room as he suffered from numerous injuries, which forced him to undergo a cartilage operation. By the time he was fully fit, in 1957-58, he had to share the left wing position with Joe Haverty and Gordon Nutt, only playing 12 matches. Having played fifty-two games and scoring eight goals for Arsenal in three seasons, he was allowed to join Brighton & Hove Albion in October 1958. He was appointed player-manager of Penzance at the age of 33,[1] later becoming player-manager of Helston Athletic and a player for Falmouth Town. Well into his fifties, Tiddy finished his career at his home village club Lizard Argyle.

After football

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Following his retirement, Tiddy returned to live in Cornwall with his wife Christine, becoming a sub-postmaster and later a local preacher on The Lizard peninsula.[2] He also previously served as chairman of the Landewednack parish council.

Tiddy died on 25 November 2009 at the age of 80 at the Royal Cornwall Hospital.[3]

References

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  • Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Cardiff City. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-462-0.
  1. ^ "Cornish football pays tribute to a true legend". thisiscornwall.co.uk. 2 December 2009. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
  2. ^ "Football star Mike dies aged 80". thisiscornwall.co.uk. 2 December 2009. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
  3. ^ "Obituary: 1929-2009". arsenal.com. 1 December 2009. Archived from the original on 4 December 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2009.