Terry Long

Background

Long was born in Tylers Green, Buckinghamshire on 17 November 1934.

Career

Long, who played as a defender, began his playing career as an amateur with Arsenal, before signing for his local team Wycombe Wanderers at that time a non-league club competing in the Isthmian League. In May 1955 he signed for Crystal Palace, & went on to make over 400 appearances in the Football League before retiring as a player in 1970. During Long"s playing career he appeared for Palace initially in the old Third Division South and then in the fourth, third & second tiers of the League after reorganisation in 1958.

In doing so he put together a sequence of 214 consecutive appearances and was a part of the 1961 and 1964 promotion sides.

He thus played for Crystal Palace in four different divisions of the League, but not in the top flight. After retirement, Long remained at Palace as a coach, and in 1972 was appointed assistant manager to Bert Head.

However, when Head was replaced by Malcolm Allison in 1973, Long also left Crystal Palace. He later had a spell as caretaker manager of Millwall, reverting to Assistant Manager until he was sacked during the 1982-1983 season.

Achievements

• However, he only made 2 appearances in the 1968-1969 season which saw Palace reach the top flight for the first time but although he remained a player until the 1970 close season, did not make an appearance in the old First Division during the 1969-1970 season.