Ernie! Hearfelt Recollections of the Footballing Legend Ernie Moss, by Stephen Poxon, published by Pitch Publishing, Price: £16.99
TO SAY that Ernie Moss is revered at Chesterfield hardly does it justice.
In three spells with the Spireites, the home-town hero scored a club record 192 goals in 539 appearances, with not one coming from the penalty spot.
He may not have made it to the top or gained international honours, but he was the archetypal target man who could plunder goals for fun in the lower leagues. It wasn’t just the towering headers or cool finishes that made him so popular and had the supporters chanting ‘Ernie, Ernie, Ernie’, it was his 100 per cent effort and commitment for the shirt every time he pulled it on.
Once his playing days, which also included spells with the likes of Peterborough, Mansfield, Port Vale and Doncaster, eventually came to an end, he stepped into Non-League management, taking the reins at clubs such as Gainsborough Trinity, Matlock Town and Belper Town.
He was also co-owner of sports shop Moss & Miller in partnership with Derbyshire and England cricketer Geoff Miller. They had stores in Chesterfield and Matlock, and supporters would often come in for a chat if they saw Moss was there.
He was an approachable and friendly local hero, but, sadly, his later years were largely spoiled by dementia, something that has afflicted many of football’s former favourites. The repeated heading of heavy footballs decades ago seems likely to have been a major factor, particularly for someone like Moss who was so good in the air.
After his death at the age of 71 in 2021, his family donated his brain for ongoing research being carried out by Dr Willie Stewart and they were given the news that he had high levels of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in his brain, caused by repeated head trauma.
It’s a subject that author Stephen Poxon is keen to highlight in Ernie! While goals and memories were Moss’ footballing legacy, it could be wider still if it raises awareness of an issue that needs far more urgent attention.
The book is a fitting tribute to a Chesterfield, and football, hero. Poxon has compiled entertaining and engaging stories and anecdotes from a huge array of people who met Moss. Some knew him well, others less so, but they all have their own memories.
With a foreword from Roy McFarland, an introduction from Miller and contributions from the likes of Neil Warnock, Mark Bright and the late John Duncan, it’s a wonderful read. There’s warmth, humour and reminders of more innocent times. Whether you’re a Chesterfield fan or not, it’s a book to cherish.
Rating out of 10: 9
