| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Albert Henry Kettle | ||
| Date of birth | 3 June 1922 | ||
| Place of birth | Colchester, England | ||
| Date of death | 1 March 1999 (aged 76) | ||
| Place of death | Fordham, England | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Stanway Rovers | |||
| Chapel and Wakes Colne | |||
| Arclight Sports | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1946-1955 | Colchester United | 23 | (0) |
| 1955-1957 | Sudbury Town | ||
| Woods Athletic | |||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Albert Henry "Digger" Kettle (3 June 1922 - 1 March 1999) was a footballer who played for Colchester United.
Born in Colchester, Kettle served in the Royal Air Force in Rhodesia and Italy during World War II.[1] After playing for Stanway Rovers, Chapel and Wakes Colne and Arclight Sports as a teenager, he signed for Colchester United in 1946. Remaining part-time, he played as a full-back for Colchester in the Southern League and Football League whilst continuing to work for Woods, a fan manufacturer in Colchester.
After 23 appearances in the Football League, Kettle signed for Sudbury Town in 1955. After two seasons with Sudbury he signed for Woods Athletic, where he ended his playing career. Digger and his brother David Kettle and other residents of Eight Ash Green foundered Eight Ash Green Cricket club, clearing Fordham Heath and building the cricket Pavillion still there today. (see entry for Eight Ash Green Cricket Club.) Digger was also a great green bowler, winning many trophies for several local clubs and individually, a true sportsman adapting to many different sports as age and ability dictated !! His legacy lives on in his 3 daughters who all played and umpired in the Colchester Netball league, his eldest daughter Anna ran the London Marathon, youngest daughter Sally also played Basketball. Hopefully his grandchildren (3 boys, 2 girls), great grandchildren(3 boys, 3 girls) will continue to enjoy sport in his spirit.
He died in 1999.