Dick Bayliss

Dick Bayliss

After playing local football in his home town of Alfreton, Dick came to Luton in September 1920 but the robust half-back could only make one appearance for the Town, a 5-0 defeat at Bristol Rovers, before becoming a mainstay of the reserve team.

On leaving Kenilworth Road he made a few appearances for Southend but it was at Coventry he made his name when he joined them in 1931 as coach and right hand man to manager Harry Storer.

His talent spotting was legendary and when Storer left Highfield Road in 1945 he was the natural replacement. Sadly, he caught a chill and collapsed when returning from Scotland following a scouting mission in the bad winter of 1947 and was diagnosed with an incurable kidney complaint. He passed away in April 1947 at the young age of 47.