https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-68602140

Luton and England goalkeeper Ron Baynham dies aged 94
13 hours ago
By Martin Heath,
BBC News, Bedfordshire

Former Luton Town and England goalkeeper Ron Baynham has died at the age
of 94.

Baynham made 434 appearances for the Hatters, arriving in 1951 and playing
his last game for them in 1965.

He earned three international caps and Luton Town said he was England's
oldest surviving international player at the time of his death.

He was always greeted with warm applause when he visited Kenilworth Road
in later life, the club said.

"He had been back several times since, where his appearances on the pitch
at half-time were met with rapturous applause, despite him saying that no-
one would remember him," said Luton Town historian Roger Wash, who has
written an obituary for the club's website.

Born in Birmingham in 1929, Baynham fell in love with cricket as a child.

He was introduced to football when his brother formed a team and "dumped"
Baynham in goal, thinking that was the best place for him - wrote Mr Wash.

Baynham was offered a trial with Wolverhampton Wanderers after being
spotted by a scout, but he turned it down.

He joined Worcester City instead and, two years later, he was offered
another trial, this time at Kenilworth Road where he signed on in exchange
for £1,000.

The Hatters won promotion to Division One in 1955 and Baynham flew to
Copenhagen that same year, where he helped England thrash Denmark 5-1.

He was capped twice more, against Northern Ireland and Spain.

The year 1959 saw Luton face Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup final. It was
the pinnacle of Baynham's playing career, but a bittersweet moment.

According to the club, Baynham described it as the "biggest
disappointment" of his career and added: "Sadly, the team that day did not
play like the team I knew."

In September 1960, he fractured his skull during a home game against
Sheffield United but recovered well enough to carry on playing.

His final appearance in goal came in a reserve game in 1965 when he was
forced to play despite a serious pelvic injury.

Mr Wash remembered him at the club's FA Cup final 40th anniversary
celebrations in 1999 and said he "proved the life and soul of the party".

Baynham worked as a painter and decorator, as well as at Luton Airport,
before retiring to live in Silsoe, Bedfordshire.