WILLIAM PACE of Laney Green - Shareshill Parish Staffordshire family of WILLIAM PACE b 2 Nov 1864 of Laney Green + ELIZABETH DAVIS nee SQUIRE CHARLES PACE + EDITH BENTON also an avid football player HAROLD PACE - a shomaker at Laney Green WILLIAM PACE married JEAN PACE MARY PACE + TED DENNY

CHARLES PACE - 1937 Essington Progressive Working Mens' Club

WILLIAM PACE, of LANEY GREEN, grandfather of famous football player, DEREK PACE, born in ESSINGTON 11 March 1932, educated at the National School, BLOXWICH. WILLIAM brother of Charles Vicarage PACE. Their father EDWARD 1845-1877 died when William was about 4 years old. The mother, EMILY PACE (nee CULWICK) remarried REUBEN DUDLEY prior to 1881 census

DEREK J PACE of football fame WILLIAM PACE, of LANEY GREEN, grandfather of famous football player, DEREK PACE, born ESSINGTON 11 March 1932, educated at the National School, BLOXWICH. Derek played for Bloxwich Strollers of the Birmingham League and was signed on to ASTON VILLA, Sept. 1949.

Nicknamed "Doc" he was a hardy and tough player, a real problem for defenders to cope with. He played 98 times for them, scoring 37 goals. However opportunities were limited with Villa. After not being selected for the Villa's 1957 cup final side, he moved to SHEFFIED UNITED Dec 1957. At Sheffield he began to show a real opportunist trait, scoring 140 goals in 253 appearances.

Derek was ever present when the club achieved First Division status again, scoring 26 goals. He was United's top scorer for six seasons before moving to Notts County in 1964, playing 29 matches, scoring 15 goals. He then moved to Walsall in July 1966, only playing 4 matches plus one as substitute, scoring one goal.

After retiring from football, Derek became a sales representative. He died in 1989. During his footbal career, Derek scored 193 goals in 385 appearances. Derek's mother, EMILY PACE and younger brother KEN PACE, were also football players

With thanks to
Jim EVANS - Local Historian - ESSINGTON Staffordshire

My aunt MARIAN PACE told me, an uncle Bill lived near them in ABRAM, Lancs. when she was young.
That would be on WARRINGTON ROAD, between the BUCK's HEAD INN and the PLATT BRIDGE INN.
Marian said uncle Bill had a daughter, whose name was Frances and she was a nurse, something like that.
Remember, this is from my aunt's memory when she was young.

A similar interesting story is told by PACE descendent, Brenda LEVER, on my Cheshire Pace page.

photo thanks to Wendy Male

Derek Pace story - lineage page - HOME page