Darlaston can boast seven FA Cup Final winners among their ranks in their illustrious history. One of the most notable was Jack Burkitt who captained Nottingham Forest to a 2-1 victory over Luton Town in the 1959 Final.

Born in Meeting Street, Wednesbury on 19th January 1926. His father Horace and mother Mable were licences of the Jolly Collier Public House in Meeting Street, Wednesbury. He and his younger brother Bill both went to Hollyhead Road Junior and Senior School in Wednesbury.

Jack’s brother Bill, who still lives in Walsall, recalls that sports teacher Dick Turley was instrumental in Jack’s early footballing days “Always encouraging him and helping him with his football”

Jack played centre half for his school team and also played for The Hawthorns Juniors (W.B.A. feeder team) in the Evening Dispatch League until he was 16. He joined Darlaston as a 19 year-old in September 1945 and was a major part of the 1945/46 Birmingham Combination winning team. A virtual ever present in the 1946/47 Season before his move to Notts Forest see team photograph below.

Bill recalls “Albion did not think he would make the grade so did not offer him a contract; it was then that Jack signed for Darlaston on a semi-professional form”

On leaving school Jack worked as a Draughtsman at Samuel Platt’s in Darlaston where he met his wife Hazel (nee Williams). Hazel lived around the corner from Jack in Bilston Road and the couple married at St. Barts Church Wednesbury and had one son, Roger.

On his time at Darlaston Bill says that father Horace was always interested in Darlaston’s and Jacks results and recalls “Despite the fact that following the war petrol was scarce, my Uncle Sam and Uncle Bill travelled to all the away games. Uncle Bill was a pigeon fancier and took two pigeons with him and at half-time he would write the score on a slip of paper and send the pigeon back to dad, Horace (at the Jolly Collier Pub in Meeting Street). He would do the same at full-time so that my dad always knew the result long before Jack got home”

On Jack’s transfer to Nottingham Forest, Bill says “Darlaston were playing Nuneaton away in the F.A. Cup on 21st September 1946, where a Nottingham Forest scout was watching then Nuneaton centre-forward. Jack had the centre-forward in his pocket and although Darlaston lost 3-1, the scout reported back to Forest Manager Billy Walker (a Wednesbury man himself and former Darlaston player) that he should not pursue the Nuneaton Centre-Forward but should sign the young Darlaston centre-half.

At this time Jack was on the verge of signing for Worcester City, however not long after the Nuneaton game Walker came to the City ground to watch Jack and decided he wanted to sign him. The deal took place in the White Lion Pub in Darlaston and the Club received £500.00 (£16k in 2011) and agreement to a testimonial game for Herbert Hunt who played for Darlaston for about 14 years and was good friend to Jack. My dad did ask Billy Walker for a signing-on fee, but Walker said No”

Burkitt joined Forest in August 1947 and went on to make 503 senior appearances for Forest, scoring 15 goals during his time at the Club. Forest won two promotions and defeated Luton Town in the 1959 F.A. Cup Final.

Jack Burkitt presents Billy Walker to the Duke of Edinburgh before the F.A. Cup Final.

Jack Burkitt’s F.A. Cup winners medal – and to think he started at Darlaston.

Bill recalls “whilst he was still at Forest, Jack brought the F.A. Cup back to Wednesbury for family and friends to have their photograph taken with the cup. Forest were concerned about the safety of the Cup, but a Director of Nottingham Forest accompanied Jack on his trip back with the Cup.”

After his playing career finished in 1962 he remained at Forest as one of the coaching staff and gained four F.A. coaching badges. He became Manager of Notts County in 1966. The following year he joined Darby County as trainer under Brian Clough, leaving them due to ill-health in 1969.

During this period Jack had already brought a Post-Office in Oakdale Road, Bakersfield, Nottingham, where he worked until his retirement. He died on 12th September 2003 in Brickhouse, Yorkshire, leaving widow Hazel and one son Roger.