Graham Rathbone (22 August 1942 – 8 January 2012) was a

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, of or about Wales * Welsh language, spoken in Wales * Welsh people, an ethnic group native to Wales Places * Welsh, Arkansas, U.S. * Welsh, Louisiana, U.S. * Welsh, Ohio, U.S. * Welsh Basin, during t ...

professional footballer. Rathbone was born in Newport,

Monmouthshire Monmouthshire ( ; ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South East Wales, south east of Wales. It borders Powys to the north; the English counties of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire to the north and east; the Severn Estuary to the s ...

. A centre-half, he began his career with

Merthyr Tydfil Merthyr Tydfil () is the main town in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, Wales, administered by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. It is about north of Cardiff. Often called just Merthyr, it is said to be named after Tydfil, daughter of K ...

. In 1960, he joined Newport County and made 191 appearances for the club, scoring 7 goals. In 1966 manager Jimmy McGuigan signed him at

Grimsby Town Grimsby Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, England, that competes in , the fourth level of the English football league system. Nicknamed "the Mariners", the club was f ...

for a £10,000 fee where he made 233 appearances before moving to

Cambridge United Cambridge United Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Cambridge, England. They currently compete in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system. Nicknamed the U’s, the club h ...

and

Kettering Town Kettering Town Football Club is a football club based in Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire, England. They are currently members of the and play at Latimer Park. Kettering were the first club to wear sponsorship on their shirts in 1976, and have ...

.Newport County A-Z of transfers
/ref> Rathbone died from dementia in Newport on 8 January 2012, aged 69.

Honours

Grimsby Town

Division Four The Football League Fourth Division was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season. Following the creation of the Premier L ...

: Champions 1971–72

References

1942 births 2012 deaths Welsh men's footballers Footballers from Newport, Wales Merthyr Tydfil F.C. players Newport County A.F.C. players Grimsby Town F.C. players Cambridge United F.C. players Kettering Town F.C. players English Football League players Men's association football defenders Deaths from dementia in Wales {{Wales-footy-defender-stub