Quickest Town player?

Quoted from mariners1

Is nobody else out there old enough to remember Jackie Lewis?
i'd also say Stuart Brace would most certainly qualify especially when u consider the kit and playing surfaces. Blimey, my first set of boots wouldn't have looked out of place on a building site with studs that were nailed on to the soles....so if u were quick in that era then u'd certainly be very quick today

I really don’t remember Jackie Lewis being quick if anything I remember him being slow ... along time ago though so I stand to be corrected if my memory is shot

Jackie Lewis seemed quick to me. But then I was about 9.

Jack Lewis was the quickest from a standing start that I have ever seen playing for Town.

Caveman's resume of Freddie Jones is superb.

I think I am correct in saying that he played for Wales.
I don't know how many caps though.

I remember a similar incident with Alan Pouton, where I shouted open the gates.

Freddy Jones was probably the quickest and he would still be the quickest today and I don’t think Reddy would have got near him. Pocket dynamite. He was a better player than just a speed merchant, he was a genuinely two footed winger who could play on either flank, go outside the defender and get a cross in. He also had a decent shot. He got some under 23 caps but he was born at the wrong time for Wales though because Cliff Jones had that job sewn up.

Stuart Brace has to be in here. I don’t think he had Jones’ outright pace as a runner but he was the quickest I saw at running with the ball he was a better goal scorer than Reddy.

Paul Emson was really fast, deceptively so because he ran like a giraffe and didn’t look as though he was moving. There were a few left wingers of Paul’s type around at the time - Alan Hinton was the first I personally remember, and Peter Barnes.

Brian Hill was pretty speedy too in an Emson sort of way. John Waite only played a few times but he was very quick as a schoolboy.

One more oldie to chuck in here - a little right winger called Jimmy Pennington who I think came from Crewe. Going a long way back - anyone remember Derek Williams, brother of goalkeeper Clarry Williams? He was a bit swift too.

One more oldie to chuck in here - a little right winger called Jimmy Pennington who I think came from Crewe. Going a long way back - anyone remember Derek Williams, brother of goalkeeper Clarry Williams? He was a bit swift too.
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I’m pleased someone has mentioned Jimmy Pennington. I was going to myself but tbh I don’t know if he was quick or just tricky. But one of my fondest memories is seeing him flying down the right wing past the main stand and I’m pretty sure he was providing service to Matt Tees. I would have been about 10 and full of Ada’s ice cream. Memories.

Quoted from GrimRob

I'd be amazed if anyone from the "old days" was quicker than players from the last 10 years. Fitness has improved so much that today's players are quicker and stronger than they ever were.

That is axiomatic Rob. The world record for 100m that was 10.2 sec in 1950 is now 9.6 ish. Physiques, diets, training, equipment  have all changed. The OP is asking who is the quickest player we have personally seen. Obviously it is going to be subjective to the time and a matter of opinion.

I would, however, note that the boots they wore back in the day (pre-70s, pre-60s?) were a heck of a lot chunkier/heavier than the modern era ones.

That's got to slow them down. Pace is pace, but players are taller and more athletic these days so I don't doubt the top speed ought to be quicker in the modern era. Over 20 or 30 yards? Perhaps not.

Debate over

Quoted from Maringer

I would, however, note that the boots they wore back in the day (pre-70s, pre-60s?) were a heck of a lot chunkier/heavier than the modern era ones.

That's got to slow them down. Pace is pace, but players are taller and more athletic these days so I don't doubt the top speed ought to be quicker in the modern era. Over 20 or 30 yards? Perhaps not.

It is very rare in football that a player will run more than 30 yards in one move. If you are quick in the first 10 yards you buy yourself enough time and space for most situations. Liam Hearn was explosive over the first few yards.