Former Halifax player Fred Kemp dies aged 80

Kemp joined the club at the end of November 1971, one of Ray Henderson’s signings, a classy midfielder who endeared himself to the supporters. Viewed as a top player at The Shay, it was said of him that he could do things other players couldn’t.

Born in Salerno, Italy, to an Italian mother and an English army father, Kemp started his career as an apprentice with Wolverhampton Wanderers in April 1961, before signing as a professional two years later.

After making just three League appearances, Kemp joined Southampton in June 1965, and was something of a bit-part player during the Saints’ promotion campaign to the top-flight in 1965-66.

However, after two seasons in the reserves, Kemp featured in 37 matches during 1968-69 as the club finished seventh to qualify for the Inter City Fairs Cup. Described as a ‘delightfully tippy-toed runner’, Kemp struggled to hold down a place in the side and in November 1970, he joined Blackpool, but was unable to half their slide out of the First Division that term.

The following season, Kemp arrived at The Shay to offset the departure of Dave Lennard. But Henderson failed to build on the success of the side which had finished third in the Third Division under George Kirby the previous season, and the 1971-72 proved disappointing, and Henderson lost his job, replaced by George Mulhall.

Kemp figured largely during 1972-73, but it was a campaign in which the side stared relegation in the face until a late surge saw them pull as the side won its last four matches, Kemp very much involved in the do-or-die last game at Walsall. During 1973-74, Kemp missed only two matches as the side reached a respectable ninth position in the old Third Division, though there was disappointment for Kemp that term when Town met top-flight Wolves, one of his former clubs, in the League Cup at The Shay. With Town losing 1-0, Kemp had the misfortune to put wide a penalty, and Wolves not only ran out 3-0 winners on the night, but also went on to lift the cup itself at Wembley.

Having made a total of 124 appearances for the Shaymen, scoring eleven goals, Kemp joined Hereford United in June 1974, though the manager who signed him, Colin Addison, was soon displaced by John Sillett, who brought in Kemp’s former Southampton teammate Terry Paine as his assistant. Kemp followed Addison to South African club Durban City in March 1975 before seeing out his playing days with non-league Weymouth and Telford United.