From: Jim Cox To: webring@non-league.org Sent: Friday, April 21, 2006 1:18 AM Subject: Highgate United Football Club Hello, I recently worked near the old Enfield F.C ground and whilst sitting in the traffic, my mind drifted back to a tragic game in the 60's. Are you the same Highgate Utd?And was there any memorial to the players that died? Thanks. Jim Jim Your question is more than worthy of a reply, so I went in search of some info through Google & came up with the following link > http://blackpoolreferees.co.uk/DYK.htm Football can be lethal. The most common causes of death in football have been serious head injuries (such as Jock Thomson), internal injuries (William Walker in 1907), pneumonia (Sam Wynne in 1927 - No, this game wasn't played at Common Edge) and infections of wounds, internationals like Dunlop and Di Jones two such players dying in these circumstances.Some are a little more unusual; Thomas Grice fell during a game in 1897 and his belt buckle punctured his stomach. A game in Spain in 1924 was interrupted when the ball brought down a live electric wire, electrocuting the player attempting to remove it. James Beaumont was killed in 1877 when, chasing the ball, he jumped into a quarry. In 1948 the Army Cup Final was being played between The Royal Armoured Corps (Bovington) and No 121 Training Regiment of the Royal Artillery (Oswestry). A storm gathered some distance away, rain was imminent and forked lightning flashed nearby. A throw in was about to take place when lightning flashed and thunder roared. The throw in was never taken. Eight players and the referee swayed from side to side and then keeled over. Two players died in the incident and the referee was detained in hospital that evening; it was suggested that wearing rubber composition boots helped him survive. Two other players and two spectators also joined him in hospital. A similar event occurred in 1967 in Birmingham . A Highgate United player was killed and seven players injured when lightning struck during the FA Amateur Cup tie between Highgate and Enfield.