"Sorely missed" - Paul Heckingbottom pays tribute to Len Badger after Sheffield United legend's sad passing
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Badger, who played almost 550 times for his boyhood club and was a member of the legendary 1970/71 promotion side, passed away earlier this week following complications from a surgical procedure.
The boyhood Blade was a member of Sir Alf Ramsay’s ‘shadow squad’ for the 1966 World Cup, but did not win a senior England cap.
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Hide AdIn later years he was a constant presence at Bramall Lane, looking after guests on matchday, and also provided a valuable sounding-board for managers including fellow Blade Chris Wilder.
And Wilder’s successor Heckingbottom said ahead of Sunday’s clash with Burnley: “I never met Len, but I am well aware of his history with the club.
“The club have put out a fantastic tribute and everyone who knew Len, his friends and family, can be very proud of him.
“When you lose a hero of a football club, it means so much to so many people and it’s a reminder of the power of football.
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Hide Ad“He gave great service to the club; he was still playing a role and he’ll be sorely missed.”
Tony Currie, another member of that legendary United side who remained close to Badger in the years since, described him as a “diamond” and “like a brother to me” while Wilder said his fellow full-back was “a down to earth, working class Sheffield lad with no airs or graces about him whatsoever.”
“He personified everything that makes this city so great,” Wilder added.
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