Vernon Avis

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Vernon Avis

| fullname = Vernon Charles Sidney Avis{{Hugman|669|accessdate=24 October 2015}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1935|10|24|df=y}}

| birth_place = Marylebone, England

| death_date = {{death-date and age|June 1996|24 October 1935}}

| death_place = Northampton, England

| position = Left back, centre forward

| youthyears1 = 1952–1953

| youthclubs1 = Brentford

| years1 = 1953–1961

| clubs1 = Brentford

| caps1 = 19

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 1961–1966

| clubs2 = Bedford Town

| caps2 = 179

| goals2 = 2

| years3 =

| clubs3 = Rushden Town

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

| manageryears1 = 1967

| managerclubs1 = Bedford Town (caretaker)

}}

Vernon Charles Sidney Avis (24 October 1935 – June 1996) was an English footballer who played as a left back in the Football League for Brentford.

Playing career

= Brentford =

Avis began his career in the youth team at Second Division club Brentford.{{Cite book |last=Haynes |first=Graham |title=Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 |last2=Coumbe |first2=Frank |publisher=Yore Publications |year=2006 |isbn=978-0955294914 |page=14}} He made his debut at age 18 in a 0–0 draw with Stoke City at Griffin Park on 12 December 1953.{{Cite book |title=100 Years Of Brentford |publisher=Brentford FC |year=1989 |isbn=0951526200 |editor-last=White |editor-first=Eric |pages=382–386}} Due to national service and with Ken Coote ahead of him in the pecking order,{{Cite web |title=Sands of Time: Ground number 80 |url=http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/other-sport/sands-time-ground-number-80-6001525 |access-date=25 July 2014 |publisher=Get West London}}{{Cite book |url=https://www.stfcnewspapers.co.uk/images/Programmes/1956-1957/PDF/1956-08-21%20Brentford%20Vs%20Swindon%20Town.pdf |title=Official Progamme – Brentford Football Club vs Swindon Town – Season 1956–57 |date=21 August 1956 |pages=5}} Avis spent much of his subsequent Griffin Park career in the reserve team. His best first team appearance tally was 11, in the 1959–60 Third Division season. He departed the club in 1961, after making just 19 appearances.

= Bedford Town =

Avis dropped into non-League football and signed for Southern League Premier Division club Bedford Town in 1961.{{Cite web |title=Best Years Players A-B |url=https://sites.google.com/site/bedfordoldeagles/best-years-introduction-page/introduction/best-years-players-a-b |access-date=25 July 2014 |publisher=bedfordoldeagles}} A left back by trade, Avis spent an early part of his Bedford career at centre forward.{{Cite web |title=1961/2 in photos |url=https://sites.google.com/site/bedfordoldeagles/best-years-introduction-page/season-by-season-in-photos-1950-67/1961-2-in-photos |access-date=25 July 2014 |publisher=bedfordoldeagles}} He made nearly 200 appearances over the course of five seasons, before hanging up his boots at the end of the 1965–66 campaign. Avis played two matches during the 1966–67 season as an emergency replacement. He left the club in 1967 and joined United Counties League First Division club Rushden Town.

Managerial and coaching career

Avis became the trainer at Bedford Town in 1966, and stepped in as caretaker manager in April 1967.{{Cite web |title=1966/7 Summary |url=https://sites.google.com/site/bedfordoldeagles/best-years-introduction-page/season-by-season-in-photos-1950-67/1966-7-in-photos?authuser=0 |access-date=25 July 2014 |publisher=bedfordoldeagles}} He departed the club when Ron Heckman was appointed first team manager later that month.

Career statistics

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition ! rowspan="2" \|Club ! rowspan="2" \|Season ! colspan="3" \|League ! colspan="2" \|FA Cup ! colspan="2" \|League Cup ! colspan="2" \|Total
Division !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals
rowspan="4" \|Brentford \|1953–54 \|Second Division \|1 \|0 \|0 \|0 \| colspan="2" \|— \|1 \|0
1956–57 \|Third Division South \|1 \|0 \|0 \|0 \| colspan="2" \|— \|1 \|0
1959–60 \|Third Division \|11 \|0 \|0 \|0 \| colspan="2" \|— \|11 \|0
1960–61 \|Third Division \|6 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|6 \|0
colspan="3" \|Career total !19 !0 !0 !0 !0 !0 !19 !0

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

! rowspan="2" |Club

! rowspan="2" |Season

! colspan="3" |League

! colspan="2" |FA Cup

! colspan="2" |League Cup

! colspan="2" |Total

Division

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps