Don Rossiter

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Donald Rossiter (8 June 1935 – 18 February 2016) was an English professional association football player turned politician. During his footballing career he made only two appearances in The Football League, but did gain a winner's medal in the FA Amateur Cup. He later moved into local politics and served as mayor of Rochester, Kent.

Football career[]

Born in Strood, Rossiter represented Kent at football and played local youth football before being spotted by Arsenal and signed up at the age of 15.[1] The club loaned him to amateur club Walthamstow Avenue of the Isthmian League for the 1951–52 season.[2] Still aged just 17, he gained an FA Amateur Cup-winner's medal as Avenue defeated Leyton at Wembley Stadium.[3] Upon his return to Arsenal in June 1952 he turned professional, but failed to make a single appearance in the first team for the "Gunners".[2] In March 1954 he was transferred to Hartlepool United, where he again failed to break into the first team.[2] In July 1955 Arsenal re-signed him, but he once again could not progress beyond the reserve team and he moved on to Leyton Orient in March 1956.[2]

While with Orient he finally made his Football League debut,[2] but he only remained with the club until August 1956, when he joined non-league club Dartford.[1] From there he rejoined the professional ranks when he signed for another Kent-based club, Gillingham.[1] He made one further Football League appearance when he lined up for the "Gills" against Brighton & Hove Albion in August 1957, but the following month he left the club and joined non-league Dover.[1] He later played for Ashford Town (Kent), Chatham Town and Tunbridge Wells before retiring.[1] He also had a stint as manager of Chatham Town.[4]

Post-football career[]

After leaving football, Rossiter became involved in local politics in the Medway towns. He was elected to the Medway District Council and spent a year as mayor of Rochester between 1985 and 1986.[1] He died in 2016 in Somerset.[5]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Triggs, Roger (2001). The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club. Tempus Publishing Ltd. p. 281. ISBN 0-7524-2243-X.
  2. ^ a b c d e Hugman, Barry J. (1984). Canon League Football Players' Records 1946–1984. Newnes Books. p. 411. ISBN 0-600-37318-5.
  3. ^ The Football Club History Database
  4. ^ Chatham Town F.C.
  5. ^ Former Gillingham player Don Rossiter has died, aged 80
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