Given the new history section, a post on 1940s footballers from Lucky Toma, and with the recent, sad passing of Big Mal, Nelly and Mike Doyle, it got me thinking if we (alright then Gary James) knew our oldest surving players?

I know the oldest chap was tracked down and is living in a nursing home (George Smith?), and there are still many legends with us (thankfully) - Bell, Lee, Summerbee, Corrigan, Book, Pardoe, Coleman, Booth etc - but of the sides of the 40s, 50s and 60s, who are still with us?

Apologies if this seems a little morbid, but I'd love to know who's still about.

Bert must be one of the oldest surviving players? He was relatively old when he joined us in 1949.

Yeah, Bert's in his 80's isn't he! Just had a quick glance at things and read Johnny Hart is still with us. Hope that's true. He was my uncle's favourite player and my uncle was known as 'Johnny' to his mates because of it. My uncle sadly passed away a few years ago so was pleased to read that.

Bert was born in October 1923 in Bremen.

I've not been doing a countdown or anything but yes George Smith is the oldest (and has been for a few years). Before him the oldest was Dick Neilson who had played in 1936-37 but he ided about 6 years ago I think (at the time of Maine Road's end we believed George was oldest but he wasn't as old as Dick).

Bert is up there of course and is about 5 years older than Johnny Hart.

Roy Little, Paddy Fagan and Bill Leivers are still around from the 50s team as well. There will be others who perhaps aren't as well known.

i'm sure George Smith is in the old peoples home near my house at Unsworth pole,he recently celebrated his birthday

Thanks Gary. Like I say, its' probably a bit morbid, but I kind of got to thinking along the lines of "I wonder how old they are, I wonder where they are and I hope they are all being looked after properly".