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A historic football club held a minute's silence for an ex-player only for it to emerge later that he was still alive and kicking.Tributes were paid to Tommy Farrer, 86, in Bishop Auckland FC's programme and his death was noted in the local newspaper.But the former England amateur who played in three Wembley finals for the County Durham side was very much alive and well, enjoying his retirement in Maidstone, Kent.He played down the mistake, preferring to "let it die", he said.But earlier, he told the Northern Echo newspaper: "We are not upset, but we did think it was a bit of a joke at first."He and his wife Gladys celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary last month.The couple learned of the mistake when a club official telephoned her to pass on his condolences. Confused, Mrs Farrer said her husband had just popped out to buy a newspaper, and that if the caller waited a few minutes, she would fetch him to speak over the phone.The former player, who skippered a Bishop Auckland team which took on a barefoot team of Nigerians in 1949, was particularly touched by the programme notes, which described him as a "legend".He won eight amateur caps and was on the losing side three times in three FA Amateur Cup finals in the post-War years, when Bishops were among the best known non-league sides in the country. He went on to play for Walthamstow and settled in Maidstone in 1970.Bishops held a minute's silence for Mr Farrer before their Northern League game against Newcastle Benfield last week, which they lost 4-0.
