FOOTBALLING FIFTIES, THE GREAT POLL: CENTRE-HALVES

Select one commanding centre-half for your Dream Team from the choice of ten below. They are presented in alphabetical order. E-mail your dream team selection in 2-3-5 formation to the author normangiller@footballingfifties.co.uk He will do his best to reply.

JOHN CHARLES Leeds United. Spent his greatest years with Juventus in Italy but achieved enough with Leeds United and Wales to establish himself as one of the all-time greats. Equally at home in the middle of the defence or at centre-forward. The Gentle Giant played 38 times for Wales.

JACK CHARLTON Leeds United. He was called into the centre of the Leeds defence to allow John Charles to move to the head of the attack. It was the start of a long career which had its peak at Wembley in 1966 when he wore the No 5 shirt in England's World Cup winning team.

LESLIE COMPTON Arsenal. The oldest player to make his England debut at the age of 38, he was a solid and commanding influence in the middle of the Gunners defence. His cricketing and footballing brother Denis got most of the headlines, but the tall, imposing Leslie was industrious and reliable.

NEIL FRANKLIN Stoke City. Was widely considered the finest centre-half to play for England, but literally walked out on club and country to join the outlawed Colombian league. He returned to play for Hull but was banned from playing for Engand after 27 successive caps.

JACK FROGGATT Portsmouth. One of the most versatile of all players, he won caps for England at outside-left and as a commanding centre-half. He played more than 300 League and Cup matches for Portsmouth in a variety of positions before transferring to Leciester City.

HARRY JOHNSTON Blackpool. Captain of the Blackpool team that entered the land of legend by winning the 1953 'Matthews final'. He won ten England caps, an international career ended when Hidegkuti scored a hat-trick against him the same year as the FA Cup final triumph.

SYD OWEN Luton Town. A resolute centre-half for Luton, he found fame late in his career when he was elected Footballer of the Year in his final season after guiding Luton to the FA Cup final at Wembley. Capped three times by England following Neil Franklin's defection.

BILL SLATER Wolves. A utility player who was at home in almost any position, he took over as England and Wolves centre-half following the retirement of Billy Wright. He won twelve England caps, yet never became a full-time pro because he wanted to concentrate on his university lecturing.

BOB STOKOE Newcastle. He was a strong and solid centre-half with the Magpies before adding to his legend as manager of Sunderland. The highspot of his playing career was collecting an FA Cup winners medal in the middle of the Newcastle defence in 1955.

BILLY WRIGHT Wolves. Switched from right-half to centre-half for club and country after Neil Franklin had walked out on England. At 5ft 10in, he was short for the centre-half role, but more than made up for his lack of inches with his positional play and sheer determination. Capped 105 times.

CHOOSE JUST ONE CENTRE-HALF FOR YOUR DREAM TEAM AND SEND IT IN 2-3-5 FORMATION TO normangiller@footballingfifties.co.uk THANK YOU.

YOU CAN ORDER A COPY OF FOOTBALLING FIFTIES AT A SPECIAL DISCOUNT PRICE BY E-MAILING normangiller@footballingfifties.co.uk

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