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OWEN WILLOUGHBY (18 August 1919 - 20 November 2003) an English former footballer for Darlington Reserves and later full-time coach and chief scout for Oldham Athletic FC.

Early Life
Owen Willoughby was born in Trimdom, Co Durham on 18 August 1919 to parents James Henry Willoughby & Margaret Agnes Grimley the youngest of eight children. He was educated at St Williams Catholic School, in the village.

After he left school he sold insurance and then in 1939 signed up into the RAF, when he was 20 years old, just after war was declared. He was a beach master at Dunkirk and met George Hardwick during wartime RAF service. After his RAF service in the Far East he became a self employed truck driver for a while until in 1950, when George Hardwick became manager at Oldham Athletic, Owen was appointed full-time coach and chief scout – among his signings was Trimdon lad Kenny Chaytor in 1953, who at 17 years and 125 days became the youngest to score a Football League hat-trick (7), against Mansfield Town in 1955, and held that distinction until overtaken by Trevor Francis.

In 1957 Owen emigrated to Canada for 14 years, with his wife and daughter, where he became the circulation manager of the Toronto Telegraph and also helped form the North American Soccer League.

In 1971 Owen was appointed Crystal Palace's North-East scout during the reign of Malcolm Allison and Terry Venables at Selhurst Park, he also worked for Terry Venables at Queens Park Rangers and Spurs(7)(9)(10)(11)(12) as well as for Willie Maddren and Bruce Rioch at Middlesbrough and was for many years chairman, principal fund raiser and ever-present inspiration behind South-East Durham Boys (7), later Trimdon Juniors. (6)(7)(8)(9)(13)(15)(17)

Familiar on every ground in the North East, Owen held the scouting position until his death in 2003. (7)

Amongst Owens find were future England internationals [|Terry Fenwick](5)(7) and [|Colin Cooper](7)(18) as well as former Darlington player/manager Paul Ward, Mark Venus now Middlesbrough's assistant manager, Ian Knight, John Tinkler and Mickey Heathcote.

Personal Life
Owen married to Joan Crook in 1953 and had three daughters (10(11)) (two born whilst living in Canada). He was involved in a horrific road accident in 1987 which left him on crutches and yet Owen remained an all-weather fixture at grounds throughout the region. Owen died on 20 November 2003, the day before he was due to lunch with Tony Blair and George Bush on the president’s visit to Sedgefield.(4)

In March 2009 a £122,000 "MUGA" allweather sports facility was opened at Trimdom Community College and named, the Owen Willoughby Multi-Use Games Area, in his honour.(1)(2)(7)(13)(14)

Ref 1: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2006/10/28/South+West+Durham+%28northernecho_swdurham_news%29/992482.Prime_Minister_opens_play_area_for_children/  (sports ground named in honour)

Ref 2: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/columnists/backtrack/4227905.The_legacy_of_Owen_Willoughby/ (Sports ground names in honour)

Ref 3: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2003/11/21/The+North+East+Archive/7008805.Owen_leaves_gap_at_football_s_top_table/ (Owen dies)

Ref 4: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2003/11/21/The+North+East+Archive/7008841.Sedgefield_sombre_before_Bush_visit/  (Owen to dine with G Bush)

Ref 5: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2003/11/25/The+North+East+Archive/7008487.Grey_Horse_romp_to_hat_trick/  (Terry Fenwick found by Owen)

Ref6: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2001/08/24/The+North+East+Archive/7100570.No_cold_comforts/ (Trimdom Juniors chairman)

Ref 7: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/columnists/backtrack/3941731.Upgrading_Newton_Aycliffe/ (Sports ground named after Owen, also founded Colin Cooper & Terry Fenwick)

Ref 8: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2004/04/26/The+North+East+Archive/6993307.Cold_wind_blows_down_the_Crescent/ (Trimdom Juniors)

Ref 9: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2004/07/09/The+North+East+Archive/6985173.Backtrack_briefs/ (Trimdom Juniors)

Ref 10: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2003/12/19/The+North+East+Archive/7006127.A_year_in_the_life_of_Backtrack/ (Owen 3 daughters & Spurs scout)

Ref 11: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2003/12/02/The+North+East+Archive/7007779.How_Crook_drew_crowds_of_100_000/ (Funeral wife, 3 daughters, spurs)

Ref 12: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2002/10/15/The+North+East+Archive/7056524.St_George_puts_out_welcome_mat_for_really_old_men_of_North_Korea/ (scouts for spurs)

Ref 13: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/columnists/backtrack/4208256.Shildon___s_day_of_recognition/ (founder of Trimdom Juniors & Sports in memory)

Ref 14: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2007/04/09/South+West+Durham+%28northernecho_swdurham_news%29/1315998.Families_pitch_in_to_celebrate_opening/ (name of MUGA)

Ref 15: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/columnists/backtrack/945368.When_Winterton_swept_the_board/ (Trimdom Juniors)

Ref 16: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2004/04/20/The+North+East+Archive/6993990.Davies_back_from_Brazilian_mission/ (assistant at Oldham)

Ref 17: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2002/07/12/The+North+East+Archive/7067307.Briefs/ (Trimdom Chairman)

Ref 18: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2002/01/28/The+North+East+Archive/7086092.Tragic_death_of_football_star_s_son/ (Couched/found Colin Cooper)

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