Fred Plummer

Fred Plummer.
Date of Birth: 3rd November 1928
Position: Defender/Centre Forward
1950 – 1954.

Fred Plummer is one of Whitby’s oldest surviving player, currently aged 82 years old (March 2011) he can remember the team as Whitby United. Fred began his career in football at Billingham Synthonia Juniors and Stockton Boys Brigade before joining Darlington in the North Eastern League alongside the professionals. Fred then joined Billingham Synthonia in the Northern League where stayed until his transfer to Whitby Town in 1950. Fred made his debut against West Auckland Town in the league on August 18th, 1950, where young Sammy Kemp scored five goals in the 6-0 win by Whitby. By the end of his first season at the club Fred had playing in 31 of the clubs 39 games that season. When asked who was your favourite Whitby player? Fred names Bill Jeffs and Dickie Chambers; ‘They were both work horses’ he remembers. In his first season Fred had played in the North Riding Senior Cup at Ayresome Park against Middlesbrough a highlight of his career.
Whitby were luckily to retain Fred’s services for the following season and it was in this season that Fred netted his first goal for Whitby. Ironically it was against his old club Billingham Synthonia in the Northern League on March 15th, 1952. The game ended level with a goal apiece. Fred then scored another that season against Evenwood Town on April 14th in another 1-1 draw. He ended that season with 28 appearances to his name. He had helped the club to fifth place in the Northern League and the Third Qualifying Round of the F.A. Cup

For the 1952/1953 season Fred finished as the top appearance maker with a total of 29 games out of a possible 30 in total. The club had only a small squad of players and Fred was one of only 23 players used that season. In the 1953/1954 season, Fred managed to play for Whitby and made one of the best games of his Whitby career when he netted 2 goals for Whitby against Billingham Synthonia on March 27th, 1954. Although Fred claims to have scored just the two goals the records show that he a hat-trick that day with Ken Kirby netting the other one in a 4-1 win. Fred finished the season with 5 goals in 24 games.

Sadly for Whitby Town after just four appearances in the 1954/1955 season, Fred left Whitby Town FC due to requiring a stomach operation. These games were the last he played for the club. It is felt that had he not been forced to give up football he would have been one of the clubs stars. Fred did return to football sometime later to play for South Bank, but aged 25 his career was ended and he was to take part no more. Fred was a tenacious and solid defender who played with determination.