It is with great regret that I have to announce the passing of Tony France (photograph: third from the right on the back row), one of our great goalscorers of the mid sixties and who remained a loyal fan attending home fixtures regularly at the Black Gold until infirmity precluded him getting to games.

There was a great photo of Tony in the Club house for many years showing him in a tussle with the legendary John Charles in a game at Poole Stadium at the end of the 1965/66 season when two goals from his  lethal right foot secured a 3-1 win against Hereford and preserved our Southern League Premier Division (then of course the highest level outside of the Football League) status for another season.

Tony started his professional career with Huddersfield and played in the same forward line as a young Denis Law!! We signed him in June 1964 from Stockport County and he went on to play 117 games in our colours scoring 40 goals before he retired from the game in May 1968.

He played (and scored) in the first game I ever saw Poole play—a 3-2 FA Cup victory over Bridport in August 1965—a game that got me hooked on the Club so I guess he has a lot to answer for!! Tony was a great character and will be sorely missed.

RIP Tony 

– Chris Reeves