Blackpool Football Club's left back in the 1953 FA Cup Final, Tommy Garrett, died on 16 April in Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia.

Garrett dramatically assisted Blackpool on the road to Wembley when his 60-yard shot in the fourth round tie at Bloomfield Road broke the back of Huddersfield Town who were beaten 1-0.

Garrett was born in South Shields on 28 February 1926 and joined Blackpool, initially as an amateur, in February 1943. When he was signed as a professional in October 1944 Blackpool's chairman Harry Evans said: "We've just signed a young full back who one day will play for England."

And he was correct for Garrett went on to win three England caps in 1952 and 1953 when he had become a regular in the Blackpool side, having made an unexpected League debut against Stoke City on 12 April 1947.

He had originally been selected for the Central League side but at the last minute Eddie Shimwell reported unfit from Chesterfield where he trained and Garrett was drafted into the first team. He later said "I was working in a pit and, one morning, got a telegram. Selected for first team tomorrow against Stoke' was all it said wonderful words to a young player." Blackpool lost 2-0 to Stoke City but the game "established that Blackpool has in Tommy Garrett a young full back who is destined to make his name in big-time football".

He had played 336 League and Cup games and 162 Central League games for Blackpool when he was transferred to Millwall in June 1961.

His career at Millwall was blighted by injury and after one season he returned to the Fylde to play out his days at Fleetwood He emigrated to Australia where he played for Austral FC, NSW, and for the Northern NSW representative side and never returned to England.