The death has been announced of former Hereford United player Lindberg Delapenha.
Club historian Ron Parrott remembers Delapenha as 'an imposing figure and a very graceful, yet powerful player.'
He was only the second black player to play for Hereford United, the first being Tommy Best
Born Kingston, Jamaica 20th May 1927, died Jamaica 27th January 2017
Christened
Lindbergh but always known as "Lindy", he was a phenomenal athlete as a
schoolboy before serving with the British Armed Forces in the Middle
East following World War II. During his service, a scout saw him playing
for the British Army and this earned him a trial with Arsenal. Lindy
was on their books as an amateur but signed for Portsmouth in April 1948
and became the first Jamaican to play professional football in
England.. He made just seven League appearances for Pompey but won a
league championship medal with them in 1948 before joining Middlesbrough
in April 1950. He became a great favourite at Ayrsome Park and scored
93 goals in 270 league and cup games, a goal every three games being an
excellent return for a winger.
Lindy finally left the north east in the
summer of 1958 when he signed for Mansfield Town and scored another 27
goals in 115 League games before signing for Hereford United in March
1961. Lindy showed all of his old skills even though he played just 11
games for Hereford on the wing, scoring 2 goals. After three years of
non-league football, he moved back to Jamaica and became director of
sports at the Jamaican Broadcasting Corporation, where he remained and
gave 30 years service.