Only a week after the death of Peter Birdseye, former Wycombe player Jimmy Hay has passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer’s, just three weeks after celebrating his 77th birthday. 

Jim spent three seasons at Loakes Park between 1960 and 1963. Despite the challenges of England amateur international Paul Bates, useful goalscorer Peter James and an emerging future club hero Tony Horseman, the Glasgow-born striker scored an impressive 16 goals in his 37 senior appearances. He was also prolific for a successful Blues’ reserve side, scoring five in one match to impress manager Don Welsh.    

But wanting to play regular first team football, he achieved that in successful spells with Maidenhead, Chesham and Slough Town. Later he managed Easington Sports and Adderbury. A talented all-round sportsman, he became a county-class bowler and was a talented golfer, winning the Wycombe Ex-Players tournament in 2011.

A popular member of WWEPA, he often attended matches and was proud to do so when accompanied by his two granddaughters, Lauren and Danielle. Our thoughts are with them, wife Ros, son Stephen and daughter Sharon.

The Ex-Players Association lost another friend this week when Barry Simmonds lost a long fight with cancer. A leading member of Wycombe Bowls Club where he was secretary for many years, Barry helped WWEPA with their annual bowls tournament held at his club.