Former
Chester winger Jimmy Rolfe has passed away at the age
of 93. Jimmy made 50 Division Three North appearances
for the club between 1953 and 1955 and also played in
the Football League for Crewe Alexandra and Barrow.
Jimmy started his football career
at Eastham Athletic where his performances attracted
the attention of Liverpool who signed him on amateur
terms. Over the next two years he featured in both the
A and B teams before being called up for National Service.
While serving in Germany he represented the Combined
Services and also played for Munster 08. After being
demobbed, in July 1952, Jimmy returned to Anfield and
signed as a professional before being released in summer
1953.
The Liverpool born player became one
of Louis Page's first signings for Chester and he made
his Football League debut in a 3-0 win over Workington
at Sealand Road in September 1953. After playing in
the following game at Darlington Jimmy returned to the
reserves but nine goals in five games, including hat-tricks
in consecutive games against Northwich and Mossley,
saw him return to first team action in a side desperate
for goals. Unfortunately Jimmy couldn't translate his
goalscoring form for the reserves to the first team
and by February he was back in the Cheshire County League
team before being reinstated at the end of the campaign
when he won a Welsh Cup runners up medal after featuring
in the final against Flint Town United.
The following season Jimmy featured
33 times on the right wing, adding one goal to his previous
season's tally of three, before surprisingly being given
a free transfer in 1955. Standing at just over 5ft 6ins
he made up for his lack of height with energy and enthusiasm
but was probably unlucky to feature in a struggling
team that finished bottom of the table in both 1953/54
and 1954/55.
After departing Sealand Road Jimmy
went on to play more than 100 games for Crewe followed
by Barrow and then had a very brief spell at Southport.
Dropping into non-league football, in 1959, he featured
for Runcorn, Buxton, Holyhead and New Brighton. After
leaving the game he worked for Littlewoods.
The club send out their condolences
to his family and friends.
Chas
Sumner [13/10/25]
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