Hymie Kloner

Hymie Kloner (23 May 1929 – July 2010) was a South African professional footballer who won four caps for his national team and who played in the Football League for Birmingham City. He played as a right half.

Kloner was born in Lithuania,^[1] the son of Jewish parents.^[2] The family emigrated to South Africa when Kloner was a boy.^[1] Though his parents were not keen on his playing football, the principal of the Jewish Government School encouraged him, and he eventually played for the Marist Brothers club.^[2] In June and July 1950, the 21-year-old Kloner played four matches for the South Africa national football team against a touring Australia team.^[3][4]

Later that year he came to England as a triallist. He was taken on by Birmingham City, and played once in the Football League, on 2 December 1950, standing in for Len Boyd in the Second Division game away to Leeds United which Leeds won 3–0.^[5] Kloner returned to South Africa that same month, and continued his football career domestically.^[6] He played representative football for Southern Transvaal, and in 1954 played against a touring Israeli team.^[A]

In later life Kloner took up bowls. He died in July 2010.^[1]

Notes

A. ^ The Jewish Report, while confirming Kloner's appearance for the Southern Transvaal side against the touring Israelis, also suggests that he played for the South African national team in the 1 May 1954 test match,^[7] though the RSSSF would disagree.^[3]

References