Percy Ames

Percy Talbot Ames (13 December 1931 – 4 December 1998) was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Colchester United, where he made 422 appearances in all competitions between 1955 and 1965. He was also on the books at Tottenham Hotspur but did not make a first-team appearance.

Percy Ames
Personal information
Full name Percy Talbot Ames[1]
Date of birth (1931-12-13)13 December 1931[1]
Place of birth Bedford, England[1]
Date of death 4 December 1998(1998-12-04) (aged 66)[1]
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Playing position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Bedford Avenue
1951–1955 Tottenham Hotspur 0 (0)
1955–1965 Colchester United 397 (0)
1965–1966 Romford 10 (0)
Bedford Town
Total 397 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Born in Bedford, Ames began his career at Tottenham Hotspur in 1951 having arrived from now-defunct club Bedford Avenue. He failed to make a first-team appearance for Spurs between 1951 and 1955, and on the advice of the Tottenham first-team and England goalkeeper Ted Ditchburn, Colchester United manager Benny Fenton signed Ames up in 1955 following a short trial.[2]

Ames made his first-team and Football League debut on 20 August 1955 in a 0–0 away draw with Exeter City, where Ames announced his arrival by saving a penalty kick.[3] Over the period of ten years, Ames would make 397 Football League appearances for Colchester[4] and made 422 appearances in all competitions.[1] During one stint, he missed only three league games over a span of seven years, two of which were missed due to a fractured finger. His run included a spell of 224 consecutive games played for the club, starring in FA Cup runs and achieving promotion to the Third Division in the 1961–62 season.[2][5] Ames was then made inaugural Colchester United Player of the Year at the end of the 1964–65 season, his final season with the club.[6] At one point during his career, West Bromwich Albion came in with an offer for Ames, but keen to keep his custodian, manager Fenton decided not to tell him until two years later.[2]

Ames' final appearance for the club to which he had dedicated ten years came on 26 February 1965, unfortunately for Ames, a 5–0 defeat at the hands of Queens Park Rangers.[7] On leaving the U's, he turned out for non-league Romford before returning to Bedford to play for his hometown club Bedford Town.[2]

Percy Ames died at the age of 66 on 4 December 1998.[1][2] He was posthumously inducted into the Colchester United 'Hall of Fame' in 2010.[8]

Career statistics
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Colchester United 1955–56[9] Third Division South 44010–450
1956–57[10] 46010–470
1957–58[11] 46010–470
1958–59[12] Third Division 46060–520
1959–60[13] 46010–470
1960–61[14] 4502020490
1961–62[15] Fourth Division 4403010480
1962–63[16] Third Division 3401020370
1963–64[17] 2000000200
1964–65[18] 2602020300
Career total 3970180704220

Honours

Club
Colchester United

Individual
All honours referenced by:[5][6]
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References
  1. "Colchester United – Player profile". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  2. Whitehead, Jeff; Drury, Kevin (2008). The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 13. ISBN 978-1-85983-629-3.
  3. "Colchester United – Match details – Exeter City 0–0 Colchester Utd". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 June 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  4. "PERCY AMES". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  5. "League Two (Tier Four) Honours". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  6. "Colchester United Player of the Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  7. "Colchester United – Match details – Queens Park Rangers 5–0 Colchester Utd". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 July 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  8. "2009/10 Committee Inductees". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  9. "Colchester United – Appearances 1955/1956". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013. Select competition required via dropdown menu.
  10. "Colchester United – Appearances 1956/1957". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013. Select competition required via dropdown menu.
  11. "Colchester United – Appearances 1957/1958". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013. Select competition required via dropdown menu.
  12. "Colchester United – Appearances 1958/1959". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013. Select competition required via dropdown menu.
  13. "Colchester United – Appearances 1959/1960". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013. Select competition required via dropdown menu.
  14. "Colchester United – Appearances 1960/1961". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013. Select competition required via dropdown menu.
  15. "Colchester United – Appearances 1961/1962". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013. Select competition required via dropdown menu.
  16. "Colchester United – Appearances 1962/1963". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013. Select competition required via dropdown menu.
  17. "Colchester United – Appearances 1963/1964". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013. Select competition required via dropdown menu.
  18. "Colchester United – Appearances 1964/1965". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013. Select competition required via dropdown menu.
  • Percy Ames at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
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