by announcing his retirement as a player six days before his 31st birthday. Deaths 4 July 1996 – Vic Lambden, 70, scored 117 league goals for Bristol Rovers between 1946 and 1955 in partnership with Geoff Bradford, who died 18 months before him. 24 July 1996 – Jock Wallace, 60, is best remembered for his achievements in Scotland during two spells as manager of Rangers, but spent part of his career in England, as a goalkeeper first with Workington and non-league Ashton United in the early 1950s and then with 69 league appearances between the sticks for West Bromwich Albion in the early 1960s. Then managed Leicester City between 1978 and 1982, during which time they won the Second Division title and promotion to the First Division, and future England striker Gary Lineker broke into Leicester's first team. His final job in England was a brief spell at Colchester United in 1989. 20 August 1996 – Les Hart, 79, played 280 league games at right-back for his only club Bury between 1936 and 1953, spending most of his time at Gigg Lane as captain. Became first team coach after retiring as a player, remaining with the club as a physiotherapist until 1980 when he ended 44 years of service at the club, which had also included the 1969–70 season as manager. 22 October 1996 – Matthew Harding, 42, vice chairman of Chelsea, died in a helicopter crash with four other people in Cheshire as they flew home from a game at Bolton. 6 November 1996 – Tommy Lawton, 77, who scored 22 times in 23 games for England between the late 1930s and early 1950s. At club level turned out for Everton, Chelsea and Notts County. 24 January 1997 – Roy Sproson, 66, who died of cancer, spent his whole career as a centre-half with Port Vale and played 837 times for them. After retiring as a player in 1972, he later served the club as coach and manager. 20 February 1997 – Stan Pearson, 78, who died in February 1997, made more than 300 league appearances for Manchester United either side of the second world war. The forward also represented England, Bury and Chester, where he later became manager. 23 April 1997 - Denis Compton, 78, who played first class cricket and football, played 54 times in the league as a left-winger for Arsenal between 1936 and 1950, winning