More bad news has come out of Boundary Park with the news of the passing of one of the Latics' favourite strikers, big Jim Fryatt. Fryatt died in Las Vegas at the age of 79. As a journeyman, Jim enjoyed 18 years of duty, playing for Charlton Athletic, Southend, Bradford Park Avenue, Southport, Torquay Stockport County, Blackburn Rovers and the Latics in addition to some USA teams. He signed from Blackburn Rovers for £8,000 in 1970 and scored 42 goals in 81 appearances, including 24 in the promotion team of 1970/71.
Fryatt moved to Las Vegas in 1976 and continued to support the Latics, watching some of the big games live. The vistory over Liverpool was one of the matches and he said, “My eldest son Sean will also be watching from his home in Doylestown PA. He would go to games at Boundary Park with me. Sean would have been about 10 years of age at the time and he has talked to me about the happy memories he had watching me playing football during this time. We hadn't spoken about them for many years so it has been good to reminisce.”
Many condolences to the Fryatt family as Jim is another player now gone from a bygone age which will be remembered fondly by all those lucky enough to have witnessed it.