Fidler: Frank

1951-1952 (Player Details)

Centre Forward

Born: Middleton, Nr Manchester: 16-08-1924

Debut v Blackburn Rovers (a): 27-10-1951

6’1” 12st 12lb (1951)

Educated at Windermere Grammar School, Fidler enjoyed a good career as an amateur with Manchester United during World War Two, in which he served in the Irish Guards. He was just seventeen when he made his debut in a 3-3 draw with New Brighton in September 1941. It proved to be his only game and he was released at the end of the war. He joined Cheshire League side, Witton Albion. He still holds the record as the second highest goalscorer in the club's history, just two goals behind the record-holder. He scored one hundred and eighteen goals in one hundred and sixteen League games and fifty-eight goals in thirty-five Cup games. A total of one hundred and seventy-six goals in only three seasons with Witton and after winning a Cheshire League Championship Medal he joined Wrexham in May 1950. He maintained his good scoring record with fifteen goals in thirty-six games before Leeds signed him in October 1951. Major Buckley was starting to build a new team with astute buys and the sale of Leeds' better players, if the price was right. He bought Don Mills from Cardiff City for £12,000 and had to sell leading goalscorer, Len Browning, to Sheffield United for a similar fee. Fidler was seen as the ideal replacement and he went straight into the Leeds first team against Blackburn Rovers the day following his signing. He repaid the faith shown in him as he scored on debut in a 3-2 away win. His good scoring rate was maintained and he got eight goals in seventeen League games in his first season. However, the goals for Leeds dried up and John Charles was pushed up from defence to solve the problem. This marked the end for Fidler’s Leeds career and he was sold to Bournemouth in December 1952. Once again Fidler scored consistently and amassed thirty-two goals in sixty-one games before he left for Yeovil Town in May 1955. In his first season at Yeovil, he was top scorer with forty-nine goals and seventy goals in total before moving to Weymouth. During his spell with Yeovil he scored forty-two in the Southern League, five in the F.A. Cup, fifteen in the Southern League Cup and eight in the Somerset Premier Cup. He played a total of ninety-two games. He had been fortunate with injuries in his first season at Yeovil, playing fifty six games but could only manage thirty-six in his second and final season. Manager Ike Clarke was told in April 1957 that his contract was not renewed and it was evident the team would be broken up. Fidler played his final game on 2nd May 1957, scoring in a 4-3 away win at Lovell's Athletic. Fidler and Marcel Gaillard, the two leading goalscorers, joined Weymouth but Fidler moved to Hereford United in August 1957. He scored sixty-three goals in one hundred and five games in three years, before he went to Bridgewater Town in June 1960, where he finished his football career. After football he returned to work for Westlands, the Helicopter Division, where he became a shop steward. In 1972 the family moved to Farnborough and he joined the Royal Mail, for whom he worked until his retirement. He died on 21st November 2009 in Farnborough.