Full name Kenneth William Horne Name Ken Horne | Place of death London, England Date of birth 25 June 1926 | |
Place of birth Burton-upon-Trent, England Date of death September 2015 (aged 89) | ||
Playing position | ||
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Kenneth William "Ken" Horne (25 June 1926 – September 2015) was an English professional footballer and coach. He is best remembered for his 11 years in the Football League with Brentford, making over 230 appearances. He was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2015.
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Early years
A right half, Horne began his career as an amateur with Division One side Wolverhampton Wanderers, failing to make a first team appearance and moving to fellow top-flight club Blackpool in 1947. Despite being described as "a player of great promise", an abundance of right halves at the club saw Horne right down the pecking order and he failed to make a first team appearance for the Tangerines. He departed the club in 1950.
Brentford
Horne signed for Division Two club Brentford in 1950 and made his debut in a 0–0 draw with Leicester City at Griffin Park on 18 November 1950. He made 20 appearances during the second half of the 1950–51 season and established himself in the team during the 1951–52 season, making 38 appearances. Horne scored his only league goal for the club in a 3–3 draw with Luton Town on 1 March 1952, after being named in the side as a centre forward.
Horne made just 10 appearances in each of the 1952–53 and 1953–54 seasons, before the Bees' relegation to the Division Three South saw him regain a regular place in the team, making 41 appearances during the 1954–55 season. Horne and teammates Billy Sperrin, George Bristow and Reg Newton were rewarded for their loyalty to the Bees with a testimonial against an International Managers XI in 1956. Horne switched to the left back position during the 1958–59 season, making a career-high 48 appearances. Horne moved to across to right back during the 1959–60 season (making way for Ken Coote) and made 22 appearances in what was to be his penultimate season at Griffin Park. Horne failed to appear at all during the 1960–61 season and departed the club at the end of the campaign, having made 239 appearances and scored one goal during his 11 years with Brentford.
Dover
Horne joined Southern League Division One side Dover in 1961 and saw out his career with a three-year spell.
Coaching career
Horne held coaching positions at Queens Park Rangers and Brentford and also undertook scouting work for the latter club.
Personal life
Horne was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at age 65 and underwent surgery which prolonged his life. He died in September 2015, aged 89.