Alf Fields BEM (15 November 1918 – 14 November 2011) was an English professional footballer who played as a centre half.

Career

Fields signed with Arsenal in 1936, turned professional in 1937, and made his debut in 1939. Between then and 1952, Fields made a total of 19 appearances in the Football League. Arsenal won the old First Division in 1947–48, but he only made six league appearances all season. After retiring as a player, Fields spent time as a coach at Arsenal, before eventually retiring in November 1983. Fields played himself in the 1939 film '' The Arsenal Stadium Mystery''. During World War II, Fields served in North Africa and Italy, earning the

British Empire Medal The British Empire Medal (BEM; formerly British Empire Medal for Meritorious Service) is a British and Commonwealth award for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown. The current honour was created in 1922 to ...

. As the time of his death, Fields was Arsenal's oldest surviving player. He died on 14 November 2011, one day before his 93rd birthday.

References

1918 births 2011 deaths Footballers from the London Borough of Newham People from Canning Town English men's footballers Margate F.C. players Arsenal F.C. players English Football League players British Army personnel of World War II Recipients of the British Empire Medal Men's association football central defenders Military personnel from the London Borough of Newham British Army soldiers {{England-footy-defender-1910s-stub