Funeral for Ex-Blade

Last updated : 23 November 2013 By @blades_mad1889

Levitt, 80 was a former Schoolboy international and regularly turned out for Sheffield United Reserves – scoring the only goal of the game in a friendly match against Western Command on 15 November 1950 and was released by the club in 1952 at the age of 19.

He was born in Birdwell in circa 1933 and earlier in his football career he represented Barnsley Boys and was an England Schoolboy International. It was whilst with the Tykes, 1949 were he won the Schools Trophy, scoring in the second leg at Baseball Ground (derby) in a 4-1 aggregate victory. “He scored the winning goal at the Baseball Ground (Derby) and although I was only little I can remember it still.” Said Colin Levitt, younger brother of Frank; “It was a cracker of a goal and he was very good player. He loved all sports and also played for Birdwell and Darfield’s cricket team.” Colin told the Barnsley Chronicle.

He joined rivals Sheffield Wednesday after rejecting an offer to sign professional terms with Barnsley and after a spell with the Hillsborough club joined the Blades. Whilst with the Owls he played legend Albert Quixall whilst he also roomed with Darfield’s Mark Jones who died in the Munich Air Disaster.

Having failed to break into the Blades first team he was released in the summer of 1952, he married his surviving wife Edna Royston and later played as a professional for Burton Albion whilst also as a miner.

Frank sadly lost his battle against cancer on 13 November 2013 and his funeral will be held at Wesley Methodist Church, Darfield, Barnsley at 1.15pm followed by cremation at Ardsley on Wednesday, 27 November.